Tooth removal

Decay, damage and orthodontic treatment can all require tooth extraction. Whether you're suffering toothache, gum disease or planning a dental makeover, The London Clinic provides pain-free tooth removal by leading surgeons and a comfortable, stress-free environment in which to recover.

The London Clinic’s specialist dental surgeons work in state-of-the-art operating theatres. They are assisted by an expert multidisciplinary team to support you throughout treatment and recovery.

What is tooth removal?

Tooth removal is the surgical extraction of a tooth. 

Who can benefit from a tooth extraction?

Your dentist may decide that an extraction is necessary if a tooth is damaged or decayed beyond repair, if the tooth is in the wrong position, or if you have an overcrowded mouth. The most common reasons for tooth extraction are:

• Severe tooth decay
• Gum disease
• Tooth trauma
• Dental abscess
• Unsuccessful root-canal treatment
• Severe toothache
• Orthodontic treatment
• Crowded teeth
• Impacted wisdom teeth

Treatment options

The London Clinic’s expert dentists can often save damaged or decayed teeth using fillings, crowns and root canal treatments.

Antibiotics, cleaning, specialist mouthwashes and dental hygiene support can help with periodontal disease.

The London Clinic provides sensitive and supportive dental care. The world-leading dentists offer expert assessment and bespoke treatment plans to resolve symptoms and restore a healthy smile. 

Tooth removal consultation at The London Clinic

The dental surgeons will assess and advise you in The London Clinic’s comfortable, private, and well-equipped consulting rooms. The dentists will take a detailed medical history and examine your mouth.

Your consultant may arrange tests and investigations in the cutting-edge imaging suite. These may include:

• X-ray 

Following your consultation, they will arrange your tooth extraction, explain the benefits and risks of the procedure, answer questions, and address any concerns you have. 

Tooth removal surgery at The London Clinic

The dental surgeons at The London Clinic perform tooth extraction under local anaesthetic. However, support and other anaesthetic techniques are available for people with anxiety or dental phobia. The procedure takes 20-40 minutes.

The dentist uses a fine needle to inject local anaesthetic into the gum around your tooth. They will ensure the area is totally numb before beginning the extraction procedure.

Your surgeon will carefully loosen your tooth using specially-designed instruments. You may feel pushing and pulling, but it should not hurt. They will then remove the tooth and may place a dressing pack into the space to stop any bleeding. 

Sometimes the surgeon may need to make an incision in the gum to expose the tooth, they may have to drill into the tooth, or they may need to separate the tooth from the surrounding bone. These procedures can take a little longer but are normal, and the experienced dentists at The London Clinic are highly skilled in all types of dental extraction.

Recovery and aftercare

Most people can go home on the day of extraction surgery. The London Clinic's team will provide support as you recover.

It's essential to keep the wound clean to prevent infection. Avoid mouthwashes or rinses and hot food and drink for at least 24 hours. Don’t poke, prod or brush the wound for 1 to 2 days. Following that, rinse your mouth gently with hot, salty water four times a day for the next two days. 

To reduce the risk of bleeding and bruising, avoid lifting, exercise, alcohol and hot baths for one week. Choose soft foods until you can chew using your other teeth. Take regular over-the-counter painkillers, apply ice packs to the jaw to reduce swelling and sleep with an extra pillow to help excess fluid drain away.

Your dentist will provide individual guidance about returning to work. If you have a desk job, you may be able to get back to work in 1-2 days, people who perform heavy manual work may need to take up to a week off. The London Clinic team will always be on hand if you have any problems or worries.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the complications of tooth removal?

All surgery has risks. The dental surgeons and The London Clinic team are dedicated to reducing complications and helping your recovery. Problems with pain, bleeding, and infection can happen after any operation. 

Specific issues with tooth extraction surgery include a dry socket, where the wound doesn’t heal well, damage to other teeth, nerve injury, jaw injury, sinus problems and retained roots. Speak to your dentist if you have any concerns. They will always take time to discuss the pros and cons of the procedure and answer any questions.

Why choose The London Clinic?

The London Clinic is dedicated to providing the best, personalised healthcare with over 600 world-renowned consultants available to offer informed health advice and treatment.

Spanning Harley Street and Devonshire Place, The London Clinic is situated in the heart of London’s internationally-known medical district. This central location, together with state-of-the art technologies and facilities that are not widely available in other hospitals, makes The London Clinic the hospital of choice for around 120,000 patients every year.

The London Clinic is an HTA licensed and JACIE accredited cancer centre with an ‘Excellent’ MacMillan Quality Environment Mark and with access to a Level 3 intensive care unit.

Offering affordable and competitive self-pay packages and expert support from Clinical Nurse Specialists and our specialised multidisciplinary team, over 98% of our patients said they would recommend The London Clinic to their friends and families.