A tooth may need to be removed when it cannot be kept, or when its removal is part of a wider dental plan. Routine oral surgery at the clinic includes straightforward and surgical extractions. The dentist assesses the tooth and the surrounding area before recommending treatment.
What Happens During an Extraction?
The visit starts with an examination and, when needed, an X-ray. Local anaesthetic is used before the tooth is loosened and removed. For a surgical extraction, the dentist may make a small opening in the gum or divide the tooth into sections so it can be removed. Stitches are sometimes used. The exact steps depend on the tooth and its position.
What Happens After the Tooth Is Removed?
You will be asked to bite on gauze to help a blood clot form. Follow the written instructions from the dentist, take only the medicines advised for you, and choose soft food while the area settles. Avoid smoking and do not rinse or spit forcefully during the first day, because this can disturb the clot.
Looking After the Area
- Keep fingers and the tongue away from the socket.
- Clean the rest of the mouth carefully and follow the dentist’s instructions for the extraction area.
- Contact the clinic if bleeding does not settle with the advised pressure, or if symptoms become worse instead of gradually settling.
- Seek urgent medical help for difficulty breathing or swallowing.