Surgical Tooth Extraction

Having a tooth removed can feel quite daunting. It is often a treatment of last resort when a tooth cannot be saved due to trauma, decay, infection, or other dental deterioration.

Teeth may also require extraction prior to starting orthodontic treatment. This gives the other teeth more space to move and for you to achieve a new straightened set of teeth.

I can reassure you that I only extract teeth when absolutely necessary when all other options have been discussed. Having worked in a hospital, I ensure that my patients are as relaxed as they can be when undergoing any procedure.

Treatment

Prior to a tooth extraction, I will make sure you are fully aware of why it is needed and x-rays and possibly photographs will be taken to assess your case.

The procedure itself can be carried out using local anaesthetic and in my hands, the treatment is normally completed in under 30 minutes from having the local anaesthetic to the tooth being removed if it is a relatively straightforward case.

There are times when surgery will be required to ensure efficient extraction of the tooth and for your comfort. This may involve making a small cut in the gum to expose the tooth or the bone, some minor removal of any bone that is stopping the tooth from coming out, cutting the tooth into pieces, or a combination of these approaches. You may also have stitches placed to help the mouth heal and these are normal dissolving stitches. I normally follow up with my patients after a week if they have had a surgical procedure to ensure adequate healing.

If there are any complications, these can usually be treated in the practice and we are just a phone call away.

For more information regarding this treatment