A dental extraction or exodontia is the removal of teeth from the soket in the alveolar bone.
Tooth extraction is performed by using local anesthetic injections that blocks pain, but mechanical forces are still felt. Extractions are performed for a wide variety of reasons like unrestorable tooh, periodontally compromised tooth or due to dental trauma. Wisdom teeth that are impacted and may cause recurrent infections are removed surgically. In orthodontics if the teeth are crowded, sound teeth may be extracted to create space so the rest of the teeth can be straightened.
If a tooth is buried in the bone, a surgical or trans alveolar approach may be required, which involves cutting the gum away and removal of the bone which is holding the tooth in with a surgical drill. After the tooth is removed, stitches are used to replace the gum into the normal position.