Is extraction necessary?
At Chapel Dental, we always aim to save your tooth wherever possible. Extraction is considered a last resort, but sometimes it is the safest and most effective option for your long-term oral health.
When Might You Need a Tooth Removed?
- The tooth is broken beyond repair
- Severe tooth decay
- Failed root canal treatment
- Dental abscesses or infections
- Impacted or problematic wisdom teeth
- Preparation for orthodontic treatment
How We Extract Teeth
Most extractions are carried out under local anaesthetic at our clinic.
If the case is complex, a referral to an oral surgeon may be necessary—but we’ll explain everything before your appointment.
Once you’re comfortably numb (and we always double-check this), we gently apply pressure to loosen the tooth, widening the socket until it can be safely removed.
In some cases, we may need to divide the tooth into sections or remove a small amount of bone or gum tissue.
There should be no pain during the procedure. You may feel pressure or movement, but we will not proceed unless you’re fully numb. Always tell us if you feel discomfort so we can stop and re-administer anaesthetic.
Following extraction, we apply pressure with gauze to stop the bleeding and may place a stitch if needed. Healing generally takes 5-10 days. You may return to work or school the next day, but take it easy and avoid exercise, hot drinks, or chewing while numb.
- Avoid biting your lip or tongue while numb
- Do not rinse or spit for 24 hours
- Use paracetamol or your usual pain relief (always follow instructions)
- Rest for the remainder of the day
- No smoking or alcohol
- Eat soft foods like eggs or pasta
- Brush teeth gently—do not rinse the same day
- After 24 hours, rinse 3–5 times daily with warm salt water (1 tsp in hot water) for 20–30 seconds
- Consider replacing the tooth to prevent neighbouring teeth from shifting
- Contact us if pain or bleeding persists
“I can only offer praise to Dr Sona Bansel and her team. I was in a lot of pain with a broken tooth and my own dentist refused to see me as an emergency patient straight away. I was told that due to COVID restrictions, I would have to wait at least 3 weeks before I would be seen.” Adel, Wycombe