Tooth Extraction

If you have an impacted wisdom tooth or a tooth broken off below the gum line, your dentist will make a tiny, surgical incision in your gums to remove the tooth in sections.

Once the tooth is removed, your dentist will suture the incision closed, and you will be given post-operative instructions to help manage any swelling or discomfort.

You may experience minor discomfort once the anaesthetic wears off. If you do, over-the-counter medications will help relieve this.

Avoid dislodging the blood clot that will form during the healing process. If you expose the bone underneath, you can risk an infection and experience a condition called dry socket.

Don’t smoke, drink through a straw, or spit for the first few days to allow the blood clot to protect the area.

If you’re experiencing severe pain, infection, swelling, or trauma, you may require an emergency tooth extraction. Contact the practice immediately so we can assess your symptoms and arrange urgent care.

In the meantime, avoid applying heat to the area, take over-the-counter pain relief if appropriate, and keep the area clean. Emergency extractions help prevent the spread of infection and relieve intense discomfort quickly.

Recovery time varies, but most patients feel significantly better within 48–72 hours after a tooth extraction.

Full healing of the socket typically takes 1–2 weeks, while more complex procedures such as wisdom tooth extraction may require a slightly longer recovery.

Following your aftercare instructions, such as avoiding strenuous activity, keeping the area clean, and not smoking, helps ensure a smooth and comfortable healing process.

Yes, but it’s important to choose the right foods. After a tooth extraction, stick to soft foods such as yogurt, soup, mashed potatoes, smoothies, and scrambled eggs for the first 24–48 hours.

Avoid hot foods, crunchy foods, spicy foods, and anything that requires strong chewing. Using straws should also be avoided, especially after a wisdom tooth extraction, to reduce the risk of dislodging the blood clot (dry socket).

Gradually reintroduce normal foods as healing progresses.

A dental implant offers several long-term advantages after a tooth extraction:

• Prevents bone loss in the jaw
• Restores natural chewing function
• Maintains facial structure and prevents collapse of the bite
• Protects neighbouring teeth from shifting
• Provides a permanent, stable replacement for the missing tooth
• Looks and feels like a natural tooth

Implants are often recommended after extractions, especially in cases where a tooth was lost due to trauma or severe infection, to restore stability and preserve oral health.

This is certainly an option which you will have to be referred to hospital to have the procedure carried out under ‘General anaesthetic’. Although we find majority of our patients can happily manage to have the procedure carried out comfortably with sedation or even just a simple local anaesthetic.