Tooth extraction
The last option, not the first. A tooth is only removed here when it genuinely cannot be saved, and you'll be told which of those two situations you're in.
Extraction is quick and cheap on the day, which is exactly why it gets over-recommended. A gap costs more later: neighbouring teeth drift into it, the opposite tooth drops down looking for contact, and replacing the tooth properly costs several times what saving it would have.
Where the tooth truly can't be rebuilt, whether cracked below the gum line, decayed past the point of restoration, or loose from advanced gum disease, removing it is the right call, and delaying only risks infection spreading.
Signs that usually point here
These are the situations where extraction is usually unavoidable rather than one option among several.
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A tooth cracked vertically down through the root
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Decay that has destroyed most of the tooth above and below the gum
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A tooth that has become loose from advanced gum disease
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A wisdom tooth that is impacted and repeatedly getting infected
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Severe crowding where orthodontics needs space created
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A baby tooth that hasn't come out with the permanent tooth already erupting
What actually happens
One appointment. The aftercare matters more than the procedure, which is why you leave with it written down.
X-ray and decision
The X-ray shows the root shape and how close it sits to the nerve or sinus. It also confirms whether the tooth really is beyond saving. If there's a way to keep it, you'll hear that option too.
Consultation visitNumbing the area
Local anaesthetic, given time to work fully. Nothing starts until the area is properly numb and you've confirmed it. You'll be checked for pain throughout, not just at the start.
10–15 minutesRemoving the tooth
Steady pressure and rocking rather than force. You feel pushing and hear noise, neither of which is pain. Broken or impacted teeth may need the gum opened and the tooth removed in sections.
10–30 minutesClosing and aftercare
Gauze to control bleeding, stitches if needed, and written aftercare covering what to eat, what to avoid, and what a problem would look like. The first 24 hours decide whether healing is uneventful.
Same visitBefore and after
A case from the clinic, shared with the patient's written consent.
Impacted lower wisdom tooth, single surgical visit. See more cases →
Will it hurt?
Not during. Local anaesthetic works reliably for extractions, and the sensation is pressure and movement: firm, strange, but not painful. Patients describe complex extractions here as feeling far more routine than expected.
For the first two or three days afterwards the socket is sore and the jaw may be stiff, especially with back teeth. Ordinary painkillers and an ice pack manage it.
The complication worth knowing about is dry socket, sharp pain starting three to four days later when the clot is lost. It's avoidable: no smoking, no straws, no vigorous rinsing for 48 hours. That's why the aftercare sheet exists.
What it costs
A loose tooth takes minutes. One broken at the gum line, or an impacted wisdom tooth, is surgery, hence the range.
- Consultation and X-rayStarts at
- Simple extractionStarts at
- Surgical extractionStarts at
- Impacted wisdom toothStarts at
- Stitches and follow-upStarts at
Ranges, not quotes. You get the exact figure after the examination and before any work starts.
What people ask before booking
Soft, cool food for the first 24 hours, and chew on the other side. Most people are back to normal food within three or four days. Avoid anything hot, spicy, crunchy or sticky while the socket is still open.
For back molars, often yes. Otherwise the teeth either side tilt into the gap and your bite changes over years. For a wisdom tooth, no; nothing needs to fill that space. This is discussed at the time, not sold to you afterwards.
The blood clot in the socket protects the bone underneath. If it's dislodged, the exposed bone causes sharp pain starting a few days later. Avoiding smoking, straws and vigorous rinsing for the first 48 hours prevents it in almost every case.
Paracetamol is fine. Avoid aspirin, which thins the blood and increases bleeding. Tell the clinic about any blood thinners you take regularly. Those need planning around, not stopping on your own.
Most people go the next day for a simple extraction. For a surgical or impacted removal, allow a day or two, particularly if the work is physical. Heavy exercise should wait about a week.
Only if it's a front or visible tooth, and in that case a temporary replacement can be arranged the same week. Back teeth aren't visible when you speak or smile.
What usually comes next
Book a consultation
The consultation covers the examination and, where it's needed, an X-ray. You'll know what's wrong and what it costs before committing to anything.
In pain right now? Call the clinic instead of waiting for a callback.