Tooth Extractions

In modern minimally-invasive dentistry, the extraction of teeth is less common than it used to be.

At Pure Periodontics our skilled team will always look to preserve your natural teeth. There are, however, times when an extraction is clinically necessary:

  • A tooth has been badly affected by advanced periodontal (gum disease) and may also be loose.
  • A tooth is impacted and can’t erupt into the mouth, causing problems (common with wisdom teeth).
  • A tooth is badly damaged, broken or infected and is not salvageable.
  • Your teeth are overcrowded.
  • Your overall health is at risk from an infected tooth.

 

How do you extract a tooth?

It will depend on how complex the tooth is to remove. Your dentist will perform an X-ray of your jaw to determine whether your tooth can be removed easily or not.

In simple cases, we will be able to remove the tooth under local anaesthetic. In more difficult cases (such as when the tooth has a complex root formation), we will recommend a surgical procedure to remove the tooth under taken by a specialist oral surgeon.

 

Will a tooth extraction hurt?

With local anaesthetics and numbing agents, the most you will feel will be an odd sensation as the tooth is manipulated out of its socket. Sometimes a tooth may need to be carefully divided to be removed but again, this will not cause you any pain.
Extractions may also be undertaken whilst under intra-venous sedation to make the process more comfortable.

 

What will happen after the extraction procedure?

Your dentist will pack the socket with gauze (and sometimes a collagen sponge is left in the socket) to stop any bleeding and help a blood clot to form. Sometimes stitches are required to help close the sockets. We recommend you avoid certain things over the next few days (such as eating hard foods, strenuous exercise and smoking) to assist with the healing process. It’s normal for there to be a small amount of discomfort, swelling and bleeding after the anaesthetic wears off.

A gap left by a missing tooth may affect the way the surrounding teeth sit and could to encourage them to move. You may wish to consider options to fill the gap left by a missing tooth, such as a denture, a bridge (adhesive or conventional) or dental implants. Your dentist will be happy to discuss your options with you.

 

Make a Referral

We’re always happy to receive referrals for any of our dental services, we treat routine to very complex cases and we also help extremely nervous patients who require sedation in order to access dental treatment.

 

To find out more about treating periodontal disease please call us on 020 7247 7400 to speak our friendly team or fill out our contact form.