Tooth extraction:

It becomes your tooth become loose due to severe gum disease
Breaks by accident
Tooth decay or serious infection
Lack of space, e.g. impacted wisdom tooth
Crooked teeth due to lack of space in mouth, to make space for orthodontic treatment
Having an extra tooth that prevents others from coming out of the gum

The procedure
Your dentist gives you and anaesthetic injection. When the area is numb, the dentist will loosen the tooth with special instruments, and once it is wobbly he removes it with a forceps. It may be slightly uncomfortable but it is not painful. Then the dentist presses on the site for a while and you have to bite on a piece of gauze to stop the bleeding.

If the tooth is already damaged sometimes small pieces of it are left behind and it might be necessary to incise the area to approach deeper parts. In these instances few stitches are put in place which are removed in a week. Very small proportion of people are so afraid of dental treatment that they have to be put under general anaesthesia in a hospital environment in order to remove teeth.

Types of tooth removal
Simple extraction-usual type of removal for teeth that are in the mouth and erupted)
Surgical extraction-in case of teeth that are difficult to access,

After extraction
Bleeding for 30 minutes
If there is any bleeding during the following days, bite on a clean handkerchief and sit up
Your dentist will give you painkillers, mouth wash (but you should rinse carefully) and instructions about oral hygiene
Pain, swelling, stiffness for 3-4 day
After meals gently rinse the area with warm salt water
Small fragments of bones can appear at the site, that is normal
If stitches were placed, they are removed in a week
Continue with usual tooth brushing being careful at the site
Alcohol and smoking should be avoided

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons care for patients with problem wisdom teeth, facial pain, and misaligned jaws. They treat accident victims suffering facial injuries, place dental implants, care for patients with oral cancer, tumors and cysts of the jaws, and perform facial cosmetic surgery.

Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, are the last teeth to erupt in your mouth. This generally occurs between the ages of 17 and 25, a time of life that has been called the "Age of Wisdom."

Anthropologists note that the rough diet of early humans resulted in the excessive wear of their teeth. Normal drifting of the teeth to compensate for this wear ensured that space was available for most wisdom teeth to erupt by adolescence. The modern diet, which is much softer, and the popularity of orthodontic tooth straightening procedures produce a fuller dental arch, which quite commonly doesn't leave room for the wisdom teeth to erupt, thereby setting the stage for problems when the final four molars enter the mouth.

What is an Impacted Tooth?

Complications such as infection (fig. a) , damage to adjacent teeth (fig. b) and the formation of cysts (fig. c) may arise from impacted teeth.

(a) Infection (b) Crowding, damage (c) Cyst

A tooth becomes impacted when there is a lack of space in the dental arch and its growth and eruption are prevented by overlying gum, bone or another tooth.

How Serious is an Impacted Tooth?

Impacted teeth can be painful and lead to infection.They may also crowd or damage adjacent teeth or roots.

More serious problems may occur if the sac surrounding the impacted tooth becomes filled with fluid and enlarges to form a cyst. As the cyst grows it may hollow out the jaw and permanently damage adjacent teeth, the surrounding bone and nerves. Rarely, if a cyst is not treated, a tumor may develop from its walls and a more serious surgical procedure may be required to remove it.

Despite the considerable concern regarding impacted third molars, a recent study sponsored by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Foundation finds that third molars which have broken through the tissue and erupted into the mouth in a normal, upright position may be as prone to disease as those third molars that remain impacted.

Must the Tooth Come Out if it Hasn't Caused Any Problems Yet?

Not all problems related to third molars are painful or visible. Damage can occur without your being aware of it.

As wisdom teeth grow, their roots become longer, the teeth become more difficult to remove and complications become more likely. In addition, impacted wisdom teeth are more likely to cause problems as patients age.

No one can predict when third molar complications will occur, but when they do, the circumstances can be much more painful and the teeth more difficult to treat. It is estimated that about 85% of third molars will eventually need to be removed.

The Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ)

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a small joint located in front of the ear where the skull and lower jaw meet. It permits the lower jaw (mandible) to move and function.

TMJ disorders are not uncommon and have a variety of symptoms. Patients may complain of earaches, headaches and limited ability to open their mouth. They may also complain of clicking or grating sounds in the joint and feel pain when opening and closing their mouth. What must be determined, of course, is the cause.

What Causes TMJ Disorders?

Determining the cause of a TMJ problem is important, because it is the cause that guides the treatment.

Arthritis is one cause of TMJ symptoms. It can result from an injury or from grinding the teeth at night. Another common cause involves displacement or dislocation of the disk that is located between the jawbone and the socket. A displaced disk may produce clicking or popping sounds, limit jaw movement and cause pain when opening and closing the mouth.

The disk can also develop a hole or perforation, which can produce a grating sound with joint movement. There are also conditions such as trauma or rheumatoid arthritis that can cause the parts of the TMJ to fuse, preventing jaw movement altogether.