Tooth Extraction: Procedure, Aftercare & Recovery
28 September 2024
Tooth extraction in Rotherham, explained before it is agreed
- Look at whether the tooth can be saved at all
- Explain the alternatives, and what happens if you wait
- Cover what the day itself involves and what comes after
- Talk about replacing the tooth before it is taken out
Nothing is taken out until you have heard the alternatives and agreed to it.
Not sure which appointment you need?
This is a guide to the right first appointment, not a diagnosis. Your dentist will talk through what is right for you once they have had a look.
Would rather just talk to someone? Call 01709 872292 or send an enquiry.
What it costs
- Extractions from
- Private £85
- Membership plan £80
Fees are reviewed regularly. Please ask us for a current estimate.
Been told a tooth has to come out?
It is worth a look at whether it can be saved, and at what would replace it if it cannot.
Afterwards, in order
- Bite on the gauze. Firm, steady pressure for at least twenty minutes without checking. Peeking restarts the clock.
- Rest today. No exercise, no heavy lifting and no alcohol. Keep your head propped up when you sleep.
- Do not rinse for twenty-four hours. The clot in the socket is the healing. Rinsing, spitting and drinking through a straw can dislodge it.
- No smoking. This is the single biggest risk factor for a painful socket, and the first few days matter most.
- From tomorrow, warm salt water. A teaspoon of salt in a mug of warm water, gently, a few times a day, especially after eating.
- Eat soft and cool, on the other side. Painkillers you would normally take are fine, but avoid aspirin, which can prolong bleeding.
Before it comes to that
Extraction is the last option
A filling, a crown or root canal treatment will be considered first where the tooth can realistically be saved. Sometimes it cannot, and then delaying only makes things harder.
Think about the gap now
It is easier to plan a replacement before the tooth comes out than to decide months later, once the neighbouring teeth have started to move.
Some teeth need a specialist
Difficult wisdom teeth and some buried roots are better done by an oral surgeon. If yours is one of those, you will be referred rather than have it attempted here.
Book an appointment about a painful or broken tooth
If a tooth may need to come out, why, what the alternatives are and what happens afterwards are all explained before anything is agreed.
What patients say about this treatment
Left on Google by patients of this practice, unedited, each one linking back to the review it was taken from.
Excellent service . Had several necessary extractions and was surprised at how well it was managed throughout the treatment. Always treated as an individual and well looked after. Regular checkups are good and keep on top of any potential problems
Response from Fitzwilliam Dental
Thank you for your kind review! We’re so glad to hear that your extraction treatment was well-managed and that you had a positive experience. Our team works hard to ensure every step of the process is as smooth and comfortable as possible. We appreciate your feedback and are here for you whenever you need us!
I have visited Fitzwilliam street Dental Care quite a few times over the past 18 months or so. Always been happy with the treatment in general. However the last time I went, which was the 3rd of March, they were going to arrange an appointment with the NHS at Maltby, for an extraction.They said it could take 6-8 weeks, but I am still waiting. Regards Pete
I recently moved to this practice and I find them so much better than my previous one. I had agonising toothache after cracking a tooth and was booked in within a hour. They fixed my tooth instead of extraction. Thanks
Response from Fitzwilliam Dental
Thank you! We’re so glad we could help and save your tooth. It’s wonderful to hear you’re happy with your experience at our practice!
Questions people ask
What happens in the appointment, how long recovery takes, and what to watch for afterwards.
Why would a tooth have to come out?
One of five reasons, in practice:
- Decay too severe to repair
- Gum disease that has taken away too much of the support holding the tooth in
- A break that cannot be rebuilt
- An abscess on the gum or around the tooth
- Crowding, where there is not enough room in the jaw, which is sometimes needed to make space before orthodontic treatment
What actually happens in the appointment?
Local anaesthetic first, injected around the tooth. Then a few minutes of waiting and a few questions, which are how the dentist checks it has taken effect before anything starts.
The root of a tooth sits in a socket in the bone. The socket is widened and the tooth is gently loosened before it comes out, which is why the sensation is pressure and movement rather than pulling. Sometimes a stitch goes into the empty socket to help it heal.
You should feel pressure and no pain. If you feel pain, say so straight away, because more anaesthetic is the answer and there is no reason to get through it.
How long until I am back to normal?
Most people carry on with their day. A more difficult surgical extraction is the exception and can take a few days, and you will be told in advance if yours is likely to be one.
The anaesthetic itself takes a few hours to wear off. Until it does, no hot food or drink, because you cannot feel a scald, and take care not to bite your tongue or cheek while talking or eating. Rest, and keep your head up rather than lying flat, which reduces the bleeding.
Some soreness once it wears off is normal and should settle within a week to ten days.
What can I take for the pain?
Over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. We may suggest taking paracetamol and ibuprofen together, in which case we will say so.
Always read the patient information leaflet that comes with them, and if you have any question about whether they suit you or the other medicines you take, a pharmacist will answer it.
Pain that is getting worse rather than better, particularly after the second or third day, is not something to manage with more painkillers. Ring us.
What can go wrong?
Four things, none of them common, all worth recognising:
- Dry socket, where the blood does not clot properly in the socket and it cannot heal. It is very painful and it is more likely if you smoke or take oral contraceptives. Come and see us rather than waiting it out
- The teeth either side feeling sensitive for several weeks afterwards, which is more likely where they carry a large filling or a crown
- The tooth fracturing as it comes out, which happens with curved roots. A small root tip can sometimes be safely left, but most are removed surgically because of the infection risk
- Tingling, pins and needles or numbness in the gum near the socket, from a nerve bruised during the procedure. It is more likely after a surgical extraction and it does not usually last
Hear the alternatives before anything is agreed
Come in, find out whether the tooth can be kept, and leave knowing what the alternatives cost.
Book an appointment Call 01709 872292
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