When a tooth needs to come out
- decay or a fracture so extensive that the tooth can’t be rebuilt
- infection that root canal treatment can’t fix, or that you’d rather not treat
- a tooth loosened by advanced gum disease
- a wisdom tooth that keeps getting infected or is damaging the tooth in front
- a broken root left behind from an old tooth
- making space for braces, when your orthodontist advises it
If a tooth can reasonably be saved, we’ll tell you what that would involve and let you decide. See root canal vs extraction.
Simple and surgical extractions
A simple extraction is for a tooth that is fully visible in the mouth. It’s loosened and lifted out with instruments under local anaesthetic, usually in a few minutes. Our general dentist does most of these.
A surgical extraction is needed when the tooth is broken at the gum line, has curved roots, or is buried under the gum or bone, as with many wisdom teeth. A small cut in the gum, and sometimes removing a little bone or dividing the tooth, lets it come out in pieces with less force. These are done by our oral surgeon. The gum is closed with a few stitches.
Before the extraction
Tell us about all your medicines. Blood thinners (such as aspirin, clopidogrel, warfarin or newer anticoagulants) usually don’t need to be stopped for a single extraction, but never stop them without speaking to your doctor. We also need to know about diabetes, heart conditions, radiotherapy to the head or neck, and bone medicines such as bisphosphonates.
Eat normally beforehand. You’ll be awake and able to go home straight after.
Aftercare
First 24 hours:
- Bite on the gauze for 30–45 minutes.
- Don’t rinse, spit hard, drink through a straw or smoke. These can dislodge the clot.
- Eat soft, lukewarm food and chew on the other side.
- Rest, and keep your head raised a little on a pillow the first night.
- Take painkillers as advised. If the socket bleeds, fold clean gauze, place it on the socket and bite firmly for 20 minutes.
After 24 hours:
- Rinse gently with warm salt water after meals for about a week.
- Brush normally, being gentle near the socket.
- If you had stitches, they usually dissolve in one to two weeks, or we remove them.
Call us if bleeding won’t stop with pressure, pain worsens after day three, swelling increases after day three, or you have a fever.
Replacing the tooth
Once the socket has healed, think about filling the gap. An implant replaces the tooth without touching its neighbours. A bridge uses the teeth on either side. A partial denture is removable and the least expensive. If you’re planning an implant, tell us before the extraction, because the way the tooth is removed and the socket is managed can make implant placement easier.
What affects the fee
Whether the extraction is simple or surgical, the tooth’s position (front tooth, molar or wisdom tooth), and whether X-rays, stitches or a socket graft for a future implant are needed. See tooth extraction cost.
Questions patients ask us
Is tooth extraction painful?
The tooth and gum are numbed before we start, so you feel pressure and pushing but not sharp pain. If you feel anything sharp, tell us and we give more anaesthetic. Soreness for a couple of days afterwards is normal and settles with ordinary painkillers.
How long does pain last after a tooth extraction?
Most pain eases within two to three days. Pain that gets worse around day three to five, often with a bad taste, can be dry socket and needs a quick visit.
What should I eat after a tooth extraction?
For the first day, soft, cool or lukewarm food such as curd, khichdi, dal, mashed potato, soft idli or a cooled smoothie eaten with a spoon. Avoid very hot drinks, hard or crunchy food, and chewing on that side. Most people are eating normally within a few days.
When can I brush after an extraction?
Brush your other teeth normally the same night, but avoid the socket itself. From the next day, brush gently near it, and after 24 hours rinse gently with warm salt water after meals.
What is dry socket?
The blood clot in the socket is lost or breaks down, leaving bone exposed. It causes a deep, throbbing pain that starts two to four days after the extraction, often with bad breath. It's more common after lower back teeth and in smokers. It's not dangerous, and we can clean and dress the socket to ease the pain.
Can I smoke after a tooth extraction?
Please don't for at least 48 hours, and longer if you can. Smoking is the biggest avoidable cause of dry socket and slow healing.
Should I replace an extracted tooth?
For most back and front teeth, yes. Gaps let neighbouring teeth tip and the opposite tooth drift, and can affect chewing. Options are an implant, a bridge or a partial denture. Some teeth, such as wisdom teeth, don't need replacing.
Sources
ADA MouthHealthy: extractions ↗ADA MouthHealthy: dry socket ↗NHS: dental treatments ↗Last updated 14 October 2026. This page explains options in general terms; your own plan comes from an examination.