Extractions & oral surgery

Why are teeth extracted?

Tooth extraction is often the last resort, when a tooth is too badly damaged to be repaired. This can be from infection, trauma or decay.
Dentists remove teeth which have come loose due to gum disease and to prevent overcrowding, including wisdom teeth which aren’t coming through properly. A dentist will always try to save your teeth, but when this isn’t possible, it may be decided that extraction is the best option.

What is the procedure – and does it hurt?

The procedure depends on what kind of tooth you are having extracted, and how many. For a single extraction, surgery is usually performed under local anaesthetic. A numbing gel will be rubbed on your gum so that the injection will cause only a small amount of pain for a couple of seconds.
Once the area around the tooth being removed is fully desensitised, dental forceps will be used to separate the tooth from the bone. You will most likely feel some movement inside your mouth as the tooth is jostled, but the anaesthetic will prevent it from being painful.
For more complex procedures and multiple extractions, dental surgery is performed under general anaesthetic. A shot to the arm will put you to sleep, so you won’t be awake for the procedure.

What happens after a tooth extraction?

After the tooth has been removed, a blood clot will form. A gauze pad will be packed into the socket and you will be asked to bite down, to maintain pressure and stop the bleeding more quickly. Sometimes stitching will be required, but these will be dissolvable stitches which disappear naturally after a few days. As your gum heals, you may be prescribed painkillers and told not to consume hot food and drink for 24 hours. Smoking and alcoholic drinks should also be avoided, as they can harm the healing process. After having a tooth extracted you should brush your teeth normally, but avoid the extraction site, which will be sensitive for a few of days.

For more information about the available treatments and to book a free consultation please contact us.