Tooth Extraction

A toothache can ruin your mood, or be problematic enough to ruin your whole day. A tooth may need to be removed for a number of reasons, including if it’s heavily decayed or broken, fractured or has a poor prognosis due to a gum or nerve infection. At South Auckland Dental we understand that for some, this procedure can be distressing, but we are here to assist and make the procedure as smooth, comfortable and pain free as possible.

What to expect during your appointment

A local anaesthetic may be given before having a tooth removed to have the area numbed. General anaesthesia, which will put you to sleep, may also be offered depending on the difficulty of the procedure. The tooth will then be loosened from the gum by using a special tool. Once loosened the dentist will remove the tooth. The dentist will clean the gum and apply stitches if needed. 

What to expect after your appointment

You may experience some pain after the anaesthetic wears off, in which case you may be prescribed some pain relief. In most cases over the counter medicine will suffice. We recommend eating soft food and chewing on the unaffected side of your mouth for a while. Be careful not to chew your gum while it is still numb! It will usually take around 1 – 2 weeks to heal but should you have any concerns, we recommend getting back in touch.