Tooth Extractions in Edgware

At Manor Lodge Dental Practice, we always do everything we can to save a tooth, but in some cases, tooth extraction is the most suitable course of action for a patient.

Why do I need a tooth extraction?

We’ll only ever recommend a tooth extraction if it is absolutely necessary, but there are a variety of situations in which we might do so. These include:

• A tooth that has become damaged or decayed beyond repair
• An infected or impacted wisdom tooth
• Overcrowding of the mouth
• A tooth that has become loose due to injury or trauma
• Baby teeth that haven’t fallen out by the time adult teeth erupt

What happens during the treatment?

We understand, that for many – or even most – patients, the thought of tooth extraction is a daunting or nerve-wracking one. With modern techniques, along with our kind, calm, and highly skilled team, there is no need to be nervous, however.

There are two types of tooth extraction that we might perform – simple and surgical.

• In a simple extraction, we’ll first administer a local anaesthetic before gently removing the tooth with forceps. We perform this type of extraction on teeth that are clearly visible above the gum line.
• A surgical extraction is used in more complex cases where the tooth is not visible above the gum line or is perhaps broken, causing only part of it to be visible.

In both cases, we will be able to offer dental sedation to patients who feel they will be more comfortable being treated that way.

How should I care for the area after the treatment?

We’ll go through all your after-care needs with you at the time, but after receiving a tooth extraction of either type, there are several recommendations that we’ll make:

• Avoid chewing at the site immediately after the procedure – we would recommend going on a ‘soft’ diet for a while
• Avoid rinsing the mouth for 24 hours
• Once 24 hours have passed, rinse the mouth out with a saltwater solution several times a day for up to a week
• Avoid hot food and beverages until after the local anaesthetic has worn off – this is to avoid burning
• Once the anaesthetic has worn off, you may want to take a painkiller such as paracetamol or ibuprofen as you may experience some pain at the site of the extraction