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Call us: 0115 647 9990
Mapperley Dental Studio · 870 Woodborough Road · 0115 647 9990
When keeping the tooth is not the better option
Removing a tooth that cannot be saved, or that is causing recurring problems, with clear aftercare and a plan for the gap.
Extraction is a last resort for most teeth and a first-line option for some wisdom teeth. Either way the decision is made after assessment, and what happens to the space is planned before the tooth comes out.
ExtractionsFrom £155
Fully private practice, no long waiting list
Early, late and weekend appointments available
Booked in advance, subject to availability
Membership plans from £14.10 a month
The straight answer
Tooth removal is the extraction of a tooth that cannot be restored or is causing recurring problems. The area is numbed with local anaesthetic, the tooth is loosened within its socket and lifted out, and the socket is cleaned. Some teeth, particularly impacted wisdom teeth, require a surgical approach and stitches.
Teeth that are broken below the gum, split, extensively decayed beyond restoration, or loose from advanced gum disease. Wisdom teeth are removed where they cause repeated infection, damage the tooth in front, or are associated with cysts, rather than simply because they are impacted.
Local anaesthetic numbs the tooth and surrounding tissue. Instruments widen the socket and break the fibres holding the root before the tooth is lifted out. Surgical extraction involves lifting the gum and sometimes removing a small amount of bone or sectioning the tooth.
A blood clot forms in the socket and gum tissue closes over the following weeks, with bone filling in over months. Where a gap will be visible or affect function, replacement options are discussed before the tooth is removed.
Why patients come to us
A partially erupted wisdom tooth can trap food and bacteria under a flap of gum, causing repeated painful infections that antibiotics settle but do not prevent.
Practical outcome: removing the tooth removes the trap, so the infections stop recurring.
Where too little sound structure remains above the gum, there is nothing to build a crown onto, and attempting to restore it is unlikely to hold.
Practical outcome: an honest assessment of restorability, and a plan for the space before the tooth comes out.
Mobility usually indicates advanced loss of the bone supporting the tooth. Where too much support has gone, the tooth cannot be stabilised.
Practical outcome: the tooth is removed before it causes an abscess, and gum treatment protects the remaining teeth.
What this treatment gives you, and the practicalities worth knowing before you book.
Suitability
Attend the examination and hygiene intervals your dentist recommends
Follow the home cleaning routine agreed with your dentist or hygienist
Tell us about medical conditions and medication, and about any changes
Your dentist will confirm whether this treatment is suitable after examining your teeth, gums, bite and wider oral health.
Step by step
The tooth, its roots and its relationship to nearby structures are assessed radiographically. Restorability, alternatives and the plan for the space are discussed before anything is agreed.
Risks, aftercare and replacement options are explained. Medical history and medication are reviewed, particularly anticoagulants and bone-affecting drugs.
The tooth and surrounding tissue are fully numbed. You should feel pressure and movement but nothing sharp.
The socket is gently widened and the tooth lifted out. Surgical cases involve lifting the gum and sometimes sectioning the tooth so it can be removed in pieces.
The socket is cleaned, bleeding is controlled with pressure, and stitches are placed where needed. You bite on gauze until a stable clot has formed.
Written aftercare instructions are given. Any stitches and the plan for replacing the tooth are reviewed at a follow-up appointment.
The first appointment is an examination and a discussion. No treatment is carried out without your agreement, and you leave with a written plan and costs.
Fees
Fees depend on what the examination finds, which is why the figures below are starting points rather than quotations.
One examination and one hygiene appointment a year, priority access and emergency support.
Two examinations and two hygiene appointments a year, priority access and emergency support.
Two examinations and four hygiene appointments a year, priority access and emergency support.
All three plans include priority appointment availability, a 10% discount on non-cosmetic treatment and eligibility for the Worldwide Dental Emergency Assistance Scheme.
Your personalised cost is confirmed in writing after your examination. The figures above are starting prices for guidance only. They are not a quotation and do not take account of your individual clinical needs. You will receive a written plan setting out the recommended treatment, sequence and cost. No treatment begins until you have agreed it.
Your dentist
Whether someone comes in for a check-up or a full cosmetic plan, the first appointment is the same: time to listen, a proper look, and a clear explanation of the options and what they cost. Everything else follows from that.
Dr Rupchhen Tamang, Principal Dentist
A general dental practitioner is not a specialist. The word "specialist" should not be used unless a clinician appears on the relevant GDC specialist list.
Comfort and aftercare
The area is fully numbed with local anaesthetic. You will feel firm pressure and movement, which is normal and is not the same as pain. Tell your dentist immediately if you feel anything sharp.
Surgical extractions take longer and involve more pressure. Agree a hand signal before starting so you can pause at any point.
Bite firmly on the gauze provided for at least twenty minutes. Do not rinse, spit, smoke or drink through a straw for the first twenty-four hours, since disturbing the clot is the main cause of a painful dry socket. Avoid alcohol and hot food that day.
Some bleeding, swelling and discomfort over the first two to three days is expected. Take painkillers as advised, keep the area clean with warm salt water rinses from the day after, and eat soft food on the other side.
Common questions
No. Wisdom teeth are removed where they cause repeated infection, damage the tooth in front, are associated with a cyst, or cannot be kept clean. An impacted wisdom tooth causing no problems is usually monitored rather than removed. Your dentist will assess the specific tooth radiographically before recommending anything.
The area is fully numbed with local anaesthetic, so you should feel firm pressure and movement but nothing sharp. Discomfort afterwards is common for two to three days once the anaesthetic wears off and is usually managed with ordinary painkillers. We cannot promise a pain-free experience, but we can stop and add more anaesthetic at any point.
The gum closes over the socket within two to three weeks and the underlying bone fills in gradually over several months. Most people feel substantially better within three to five days. Swelling peaks around day two or three after a surgical extraction and then improves.
A dry socket occurs when the blood clot protecting the socket is lost or fails to form, leaving bone exposed. It typically causes severe pain starting two to four days after the extraction, often with a bad taste. It is treatable at the practice with a dressing, so contact us rather than waiting it out.
Not always. Back teeth that are not visible and do not affect your bite are sometimes left. Where the gap is visible, affects chewing, or would allow neighbouring teeth to drift and the opposing tooth to over-erupt, replacement with an implant, bridge or denture is worth planning before the extraction rather than afterwards.
Yes, after an extraction under local anaesthetic. You will be numb but not sedated. Arrange transport if you are having sedation, which would be discussed and organised in advance rather than on the day.
Usually yes. Most patients on anticoagulant medication can have teeth removed safely with appropriate planning and local measures to control bleeding. Do not stop any medication without advice from the prescribing doctor. Tell the practice about all medication when booking so the appointment can be planned properly.
Still unsure about something? Call the practice on 0115 647 9990 and ask.
Finding us
| Monday | 9am to 5pm |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 8am to 8pm |
| Wednesday | 8am to 8pm |
| Thursday | 9am to 5pm |
| Friday | 9am to 5pm |
| Saturday | Pre-booked appointments only |
| Sunday | Closed |
Patient feedback
Your first appointment is an assessment and a conversation. You leave with a written plan setting out what is recommended, in what order, and what it costs, and you decide what happens next.
