At the Queens Dental Practice, we try to retain teeth whenever possible but there are occasions when a tooth is too badly damaged and we have to remove it.

A tooth might need to be removed because it has been damaged by severe tooth decay or a painful wisdom tooth may need extracting. Sometimes it is necessary to remove a tooth or several teeth before starting orthodontic treatment to straighten the teeth.

What does an extraction involve?

The area surrounding the tooth will be numbed first with a local anaesthetic so that you will not feel any pain. There will be a wait of a few minutes until the anaesthetic has taken effect. We test and check that the local anaesthetic has worked before we start to remove the tooth. We will only remove the tooth once you are completely numb.

What aftercare should I follow?

• Avoid hot drinks and foods until the injection and numbness has worn off
• After 24 hours, rinse your mouth gently with warm salt water (1 teaspoon of salt in a glass)
• Repeat several times each day after meals, taking care not to dislodge the blood clot in the tooth socket
• If the socket bleeds, apply pressure by biting down on sterile cotton wool or tissue
• Take painkillers if needed
• Brush your teeth carefully being gentle around the extraction socket
• Make sure you complete any course of antibiotics you are given
• Avoid smoking to improve healing
• Contact your dentist if there is excessive bleeding or pain