Tooth extractions
Need a tooth taken out because of an infection or because it's broken? Our qualified The Fono dentists can remove it safely. Tooth extractions can take from one to three appointments, depending on what's needed.
What to expect
Consultation & Extraction: Your dentist will examine your teeth and if you need an extraction, they’ll discuss your options. If the extraction is complex, they may offer sedation but we will need to know your medical history. They’ll also talk to you about options to replace the extracted tooth. Sometimes the consultation and extraction will happen at the same appointment.
Extraction day tips:
- Avoid hot drinks, hot or hard food, alcohol, smoking, heavy physical activities or directly touching the wound
- Avoid rinsing your mouth in the first 24 hours to allow your blood to clot.
- Reduce swelling by holding an ice pack (or a bag of frozen vegies wrapped in a cloth) on the swollen side of your face. Do this 10-15 minutes after the extraction.
- Drink plenty of cold or warm fluids and eat soft food only.
- Use the prescribed pain relief. It’s best to start using this before the anaesthetic wears off.
It’s normal after a tooth extraction to have some bleeding, swelling, discomfort and tightness of jaw muscles. If there's some bleeding, your dentist will advise you to place a gauze or cotton pad over the bleeding and to bite down firmly, for 15-30 minutes. Contact your dentist immediately if the bleeding gets worse
One day after extraction:
- Keep your mouth and wound clean.
- Brush your teeth, including around the wound.
- Rinse your mouth gently 6-8 times a day with warm, salty water (a 1/4 teaspoon of salt in a glass of water).
- Mouthwash can help reduce the risk of infection
Follow-up appointment: One or two days after your tooth extraction, you’ll have a follow-up appointment with your dentist to check the wound and ensure that it is healing nicely.
How we help
Our dentists priority is to save and retain your natural teeth using options like crowns or fillings. But sometimes, if the decay or infection is too much, we can't save your teeth and need to extract the damaged teeth to save the healthy ones.
