Tooth Extraction

The extraction itself should not hurt. The area is numbed with local anaesthetic, and we test it before starting. You will feel pressure and movement, which can feel strange, but not sharp pain. If you feel anything sharp, tell us and we add more anaesthetic. Once the anaesthetic wears off, some soreness is normal for a few days. It is usually well controlled with the painkillers we recommend. Surgical and wisdom tooth extractions tend to be more tender than simple ones.

A simple extraction is usually quick once the area is numb. Most of the appointment is spent on the assessment, the anaesthetic and explaining aftercare. Surgical extractions and impacted wisdom teeth take longer, depending on the position of the tooth and its roots. We give you a realistic idea of timing when we plan your case.

Often it can, and we always check first. Root canal treatment, a crown or gum treatment can keep many teeth that look beyond repair. We recommend extraction when the tooth is split below the gum, too decayed to restore, has an infection that cannot be treated, or has lost too much bone support. In those cases, keeping it usually means more pain and a spreading infection. If you have been told elsewhere that a tooth must come out, we are happy to give a second opinion.

Every extraction needs imaging so we can see the roots and the surrounding bone. For most teeth, a standard X-ray is enough. For impacted wisdom teeth, teeth close to the nerve or sinus, and extractions planned before implants, we use a 3D CT scan. It shows exactly where the roots are and how close they sit to important structures. Imaging is quoted separately from the examination and the extraction, and only taken when your case needs it.

Soft, lukewarm food for the first day or two: yogurt, soups that have cooled, mashed potatoes, eggs, pasta. Chew on the opposite side. Avoid very hot drinks, alcohol, spicy food and anything hard, crunchy or with small grains that could get into the socket. Do not drink through a straw for the first days, because the suction can dislodge the clot. Most people return to a normal diet within a few days, bringing in firmer food as the area feels comfortable.

A dry socket happens when the blood clot in the socket is lost or does not form properly, leaving the bone exposed. It usually shows up two to four days after the extraction as pain that gets worse instead of better, sometimes with a bad taste. Smoking, rinsing too hard and drinking through a straw all increase the risk, which is why we ask you to avoid them. If you think you have a dry socket, contact us. It is treated by cleaning the socket and placing a soothing dressing, and the pain usually eases soon after.

After most simple extractions, flying a day or two later is fine. After surgical extractions, or upper back teeth close to the sinus, we may recommend waiting longer. We plan extractions early in your stay so we can check the socket before you leave. Tell us your travel dates when you book, and we will advise you based on your own case.

It depends on the tooth, the bone and whether there was infection. Your dentist decides the timing based on your scan and how the area heals, and explains it before the extraction. Once the implant is placed, it needs 3 to 6 months of healing before the final crown is fitted. Because of that, implant treatment is usually carried out over two trips, and we plan both from the start. Where the bone would otherwise shrink too much, a bone graft may be recommended at the time of extraction to preserve the site.

No. Wisdom teeth that have come through fully, are healthy and can be cleaned properly can stay. We recommend removal when they cause repeated infection, pain or swelling, when they push against or damage the tooth in front, when they are decaying and hard to clean, or when they are impacted in a way likely to cause problems. A 3D CT scan helps decide, and it shows how close a lower wisdom tooth sits to the nerve before any surgery is planned.

That is very common. Tell us when you book, so we can plan extra time. We explain each step before doing it, check that the area is fully numb, and agree a signal you can use to pause at any point. Many nervous patients find that knowing exactly what will happen makes a big difference. If your anxiety is severe, we can discuss sedation options during your assessment.

Your written, itemised quotation lists the extraction itself and anything else your case needs, such as imaging, a surgical approach or a bone graft, each on its own line. If the extraction is part of implant or prosthetic treatment, the full plan is shown from the start, including the implant brand and the crown material. Nothing is added later that was not discussed with you first.