If you have the following conditions, you may need an extraction: 

• Impacted Teeth
• Wisdom Teeth
• Severe decay
• Too many teeth or teeth in wrong position (as part of orthodontic treatment)
• Advanced periodontal disease
• Fractured teeth/roots
• Severe mobility of teeth
• Infection or abscess that can’t be resolved with root canal treatment

Dr Julie will make sure you are as comfortable as possible following any surgical procedure. For example, it is to be expected to feel some discomfort after a tooth extraction. Taking painkillers before and after the surgery can help. You will be given verbal and written instructions on how to manage those first few post-operative days. After a few days, the discomfort should lessen. Although this does not happen very often, if it does not lessen or becomes worse, please get in touch and we will see you as soon as possible to see how we can help. 

Wisdom Teeth

Third molars (also known as wisdom teeth) develop in the back of the mouth and are the last teeth to develop. These teeth usually come in between 18 and 20 years old. Wisdom teeth often become impacted (unable to come through into the mouth or become misaligned) possibly because the jaw is not large enough fit them. 

Trapped wisdom teeth can cause extensive damage of the adjacent teeth and need to be extracted in some cases. Wisdom teeth can be left in the mouth if the patient has enough room for them and if they are healthy and not causing any damage to the adjacent teeth. X-rays can help with the assessment of wisdom teeth and help determine if the teeth should be extracted. Three dimensional (3D) scans may also be needed to help ascertain the risks of removing wisdom teeth.

Local anaesthetic is used to numb up any areas that may be affected by a surgical procedure/tooth removal. Dr Julie uses a special gel to numb the gum before the injections are given to make them more comfortable. In addition, conscious sedation (intravenous and inhalational) is often used to make many oral surgical procedures more manageable, especially for the anxious patient. Your individual needs can be discussed at the initial consultation appointment.