Extractions
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Unfortunately tooth removal or ‘extractions’ are sometimes necessary. In cases of a dental emergency, extractions are often a quick and easy solution to addressing a serious dental problem and providing you with immediate pain relief.
Removing teeth can be a very straight-forward procedure. For simple extractions, we loosen the tooth using dental forceps under a local anaesthetic, to ensure the procedure is painless. The tooth comes out easily and no stitches are required. It is common for a patient to not even realise that the tooth has been removed, the procedure is that quick!
Some teeth are more awkward to remove, if they have broken leaving their roots concealed under the gum, or if they have irregular shaped or large roots. The dentist assesses the level of difficulty with an x-ray before proceeding, as some teeth may need to be referred to a specialist. A surgical extraction involves making a small incision in the gum and often some removal of bone from around the root, having first given a local anaesthetic to ensure your comfort. For large teeth, we may need to remove it in sections. Stitches are placed to seal the wound, which either dissolve on their own, or are removed one week later. One of our team will phone you the next day to check on how you are feeling and whether you have any concerns.
Wisdom teeth are no longer routinely removed, in accordance with NICE guidance. If you are having problems with your wisdom teeth, we will thoroughly assess them and inform you about the risks and benefits of their removal.
No, extraction shouldn’t be painful. We use local anaesthetic after first using a numbing gel on your gums, to ensure you are comfortable and relaxed before and during the procedure. We do not proceed until you are happy that you can’t feel anything.
Before leaving the surgery, our dentist will ensure that your tooth socket has completely stopped bleeding, and will supply you with a pack of gauze to bite on, in the event it starts to ooze when you get home. We also go through home care with you and give you an instruction leaflet to refer to later.
It is important to keep your mouth clean, so as well as your usual brushing routine, gently rinse your mouth with warm, salty water. Encourage healing of the affected area by eating softer foods and chewing on the opposite side of your mouth. Avoid smoking for as long as possible as this disrupts the healing process.
If you experience intense pain a few days after the extraction, you may well have a condition known as dry socket, which occurs when a blood clot fails to form or is dislodged prematurely, exposing the bone. Please call the practice on 01633 877618, as you will need treatment from the dentist to rectify the problem and alleviate your pain.
