There are two types of extraction procedures: a simple extraction and a surgical extraction. Simple extractions are just like they sound. They are performed on teeth that can be easily seen and accessed in your mouth. In a simple extraction, the tooth is loosened with a small tool called an elevator, then taken out with dental forceps.
A surgical extraction is more complex. The tooth may have been broken off at your gum line, or it hasn’t yet come through the surface of your gums, as is typical with wisdom teeth. To perform a surgical extraction the dentist will need to make a small cut in your gum to lift the tooth out. The affected tooth may need to be sectioned (cut into parts) so it can be more easily removed. Some bone may also need to be removed from around the tooth.