Our Dentists are very skilled at saving teeth, and will do everything they can to preserve them. However, sometimes a tooth is too decayed or damaged to be saved, and needs to be extracted in order to prevent infections and swelling.

Simple & Surgical Extractions

Dental extraction is the removal of a tooth from the socket in the bone, generally done if the tooth is broken or has been damaged by decay and cannot be fixed by a filling or crown.
Other reasons for extractions can include wisdom teeth (either being extracted before or after they come in), space needed for other teeth coming in, getting braces and for some medical conditions or procedures that may require teeth extractions.

There are two types of extractions, a simple extraction or a surgical extraction. A simple extraction involves a local anaesthetic injection (with or without anti-anxiety drugs). The dentist will grasp the tooth with forceps and remove it. This is done for teeth that can be seen in the mouth, for teeth that cannot be easily seen in the mouth a surgical extraction is done. Your dentist will cut and pull back the gum to gain access to remove bone or tooth under local anaesthetic, there is also the option of conscious sedation. Following the tooth extraction, we are happy to provide you with one of our excellent tooth replacement treatments to restore your smile to optimal health, beauty and function

Wisdom Extractions

Wisdom teeth are the teeth that appear right at the back of your mouth during your late teens and early twenties. Often the problem is that there is no room left for them to come through and the teeth fail to emerge properly. A wisdom tooth can come through the gum partly or remain trapped under the gum – this is known as an impacted wisdom tooth.

Impacted wisdom teeth can become a constant source of infection and have the potential for an acute flare up.
Wisdom teeth only need to be removed if they are causing problems, for example:

• They become difficult to clean and are prone to tooth decay, gum disease, and recurring infections
• Cysts and tumors develop in tissue around the impacted wisdom teeth
• If the teeth cause pressure to surrounding teeth by overcrowding

Under local anesthetic, the gum tissue around the wisdom tooth is cut open to reveal the tooth. The tooth is loosened by gripping it tightly and wiggling it back and forth until it can be lifted out of the gums. Sometimes a tooth may be impacted so tightly that it cannot be simply lifted out of the gums. In cases like this the tooth will be broken up into pieces first before being removed. Depending on the incision and extraction site, sutures may be needed to close the area.