An extraction is often a last resort, but it could also be clinically necessary, particularly in the case of impacted wisdom teeth or overcrowding. Where possible, we would seek to minimise extractions and focus on restorative care, such as root canal treatment. However, if a tooth is badly damaged or risking the health of surrounding teeth, we may recommend an extraction.
After tooth extraction, we can support you in choosing the right restoration for your needs. While you can leave a gap in your smile, this isn’t always recommended, as it can lead the surrounding and opposing teeth to shift. Instead, we recommend replacing an extracted tooth with a bridge, partial denture or a dental implant.
We start by numbing the area using a local anaesthetic. This will ensure you don’t feel any pain during the procedure. You may feel unusual pressure, but this isn’t the same as pain. Depending on the extent of the damage, we will either rock the tooth in the socket until it is ready to come loose, or we may have to remove the tooth in pieces.
Once the tooth is removed, we may stitch your gum closed or leave it to heal naturally. We will give you aftercare advice to help you care for the extraction site at home. It’s important to keep the site clean to avoid an infection. It takes around 2-3 weeks for the gum site to heal, and around 3-6 months for the site to be completely healed. After this, we can explore options for restoring your smile, including bridges and dental implants.
Yes, if there is time we will remove your tooth if that is the treatment option you have agreed to. The purpose of an emergency appointment is to assess the cause of the problem, stop your pain and then take steps to prevent further damage. If we couldn’t remove your tooth at the emergency appointment, we would provide alternative temporary treatments and then arrange a time for follow up treatment, which might include tooth extraction.
The procedure is very straightforward and can sometimes take just a few minutes to complete. For larger teeth at the back of the mouth, it can take a little longer to remove them. You will be numbed throughout the procedure and shouldn’t feel a thing.
Yes, we can remove wisdom teeth if they have come through fully, however more complicated wisdom tooth extractions may need to be referred to a local hospital. Regular checkups with your dentist will allow us to monitor your wisdom teeth and determine if they need to be extracted.
