Why a tooth may need to come out
- A break below the gum line
- Decay too deep to repair
- Loose teeth from advanced gum disease
- An infection that treatment cannot clear
- Crowding, as part of a braces plan
Tell your dentist first
Mention any medicines you take, especially blood thinners. Tell us about diabetes, heart conditions and pregnancy too.
On the day
Your dentist numbs the tooth and the gum around it. The dentist then loosens the tooth and lifts it out.
You bite on a piece of gauze to help a blood clot form. That clot protects the socket while it heals.
The first 24 hours
- Keep biting on the gauze as your dentist told you
- Do not rinse or spit hard
- Skip straws, cigarettes and shisha
- Avoid hot drinks and hard exercise
- Rest with your head raised
Sucking and smoking can dislodge the clot and cause a painful dry socket.
Call the clinic if
- Bleeding has not settled after several hours
- Pain gets worse after two or three days
- You develop a fever or growing swelling
Filling the gap
A missing tooth can let nearby teeth drift over time. Your dentist will talk you through your options once the area has healed.
If you are having teeth removed for braces, the space closes during treatment.
Surgical extractions
Some teeth cannot be lifted out in one piece. A broken tooth, or one still under the gum, may need a small surgical procedure.
Your dentist numbs the area and may make a small opening in the gum. Stitches close it afterwards.
Wisdom teeth
Wisdom teeth often come through between the ages of 17 and 25. Some grow in straight and cause no trouble.
Others get stuck, decay or inflame the gum around them. Your dentist checks them with an X-ray and advises whether to keep or remove them.
Children’s teeth
Baby teeth sometimes need removing when decay is too deep or an adult tooth is coming through behind. Your dentist will explain whether your child needs a space maintainer.
Recovery, day by day
- Day one Rest, keep biting on gauze as told and eat soft, cool food.
- Days two and three Start gentle warm salt water rinses if your dentist advises them.
- The first week Keep food away from the socket and come back if you had stitches to remove.