Extraction is the last option, not the first. Before removing any tooth we will tell you whether it can realistically be saved and what that would involve, so the decision is yours and it is informed.
Sometimes removal is genuinely the right answer: a tooth broken below the gum, one with severe bone loss, a wisdom tooth that keeps getting infected, or a tooth being removed to make space for orthodontic treatment.
Wisdom teeth
Wisdom teeth cause trouble when there is not enough room for them. Partially erupted ones trap food and bacteria under a flap of gum, which leads to recurring painful infections, and they can decay the healthy molar in front of them.
Not every wisdom tooth needs removing. One that is fully through, cleanable and not causing problems can be left alone. We take an X-ray, look at the root position and its relationship to the nerve, and give you a straight recommendation.
Aftercare — this part matters
- Bite firmly on the gauze for 30–45 minutes and do not keep checking it
- No rinsing, spitting or straws for 24 hours — this is what dislodges the clot and causes dry socket
- No smoking for at least 48 hours; smokers get dry socket several times more often
- Soft, cool food for the first day; chew on the other side
- From day two, warm salt-water rinses after meals
- Some swelling on days two and three is normal. Swelling that increases after day three, with fever or a bad taste, means you should come back.