Teeth Extractions

Tooth extraction means removing a tooth from its socket. We offer both ordinary and wisdom tooth extractions, and we do not propose either one until the alternatives have been looked at properly.

When a tooth needs to come out

• Overcrowding, which is causing problems with the bite and the alignment of the other teeth
• Infection and damage to a tooth that may otherwise spread
• Impaction, which is often the case with wisdom teeth
• In preparation for orthodontic care

What happens

The first step is an X‑ray, to understand the condition of the jawbone and the position of the roots; that is what decides the strategy. Local anaesthesia is given to numb the site, the tooth is carefully removed from its socket, and the site is cleaned and flushed. A bone graft may be placed in the jawbone around the socket where it is needed. A gauze pad then goes over the site to control the bleeding.

Afterwards

Keeping the site clean is what prevents infection. Use an icepack if there is swelling, and eat soft, cold food. Avoid smoking, drinking and using a straw: the suction lifts the clot out of the socket, which is both painful and slow to recover from.

For your comfort

Any of these can be used to eliminate pain during an extraction: local anaesthesia, oral sedation, intravenous sedation and laughing gas. More about sedation.