Tooth Extraction

When a tooth can’t be saved

Removing a tooth is always the last option we reach for — and sometimes it is genuinely the right one.

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When It’s Needed

An extraction may be necessary

Decay has destroyed too much of the tooth to restore it
The tooth is split or cracked below the gum line
Severe gum disease has left the tooth loose in weakened bone
An infection can’t be resolved with root canal treatment, or you’ve chosen not to pursue it
A baby tooth is stubbornly refusing to make way for the adult tooth beneath
Teeth need removing to create space before orthodontic treatment

At The Appointment

What actually happens

01/

Assessment

An X-ray to see the root shape, the bone around it and anything nearby. We confirm the tooth genuinely can’t be saved, and discuss what will replace it.

02/

Numbing

Local anaesthetic, then we wait until the area is thoroughly numb and test it before starting. You should feel pressure but not sharp pain.

03/

Removal

The tooth is loosened and eased out. Straightforward extractions take minutes; a surgical removal takes longer and may need a stitch or two.

04/

Settling the socket

Gauze pressure until bleeding slows, then written aftercare and a check that you’re steady before you leave.

Afterwards

Recovery & aftercare

Bite firmly on the gauze for at least 30 minutes; replace it if bleeding continues.
No rinsing, spitting, straws or smoking for 24 hours — all of them can dislodge the clot and cause a painful dry socket.
Expect swelling that peaks around day two, and use a cold pack over the cheek in the first day.
Soft food and lukewarm drinks for a day or two; chew on the other side.
From day two, gentle warm salt-water rinses several times daily.
Take pain relief before the anaesthetic wears off rather than waiting for pain to arrive.
Call us if bleeding won’t stop, pain worsens after day three, or you develop a fever.

Alternatives We’d Also Discuss

Other ways to go

Root canal treatment

If the root is sound and enough tooth remains, root canal treatment plus a crown often saves it. Costs more upfront and keeps your own tooth.

A crown

Where a tooth is heavily broken but structurally viable, full coverage can protect and keep it.

Gum treatment

For loose teeth caused by gum disease, periodontal treatment sometimes stabilises things enough to keep them longer.

Risks & Considerations

The honest downsides

No treatment is risk-free, and you should hear this before you decide rather than afterwards.

Dry socket — where the clot is lost and bone is exposed — is the most common complication, and is very painful. Following the 24-hour rules dramatically reduces the risk.
Bruising and swelling are normal after surgical extractions and can take a week to settle.
Infection is possible, and may need antibiotics.
Upper back teeth sit close to the sinus; occasionally a small communication with the sinus can occur and needs specific management.
Lower back teeth sit near the nerve supplying the lip and chin. Temporary or, rarely, lasting numbness is possible — which is why we X-ray first.
The gap will change things: neighbouring teeth drift, the opposing tooth over-erupts, and bone in the area gradually shrinks. Plan the replacement before the extraction where you can.
If you take blood thinners or bisphosphonates, tell us — both change how we plan the procedure.

Cost & health funds

Cost depends on whether the extraction is simple or surgical, which we’ll know after the X-ray. Health funds usually rebate on extractions, claimable on the spot with HICAPS. Eligible children may be covered through CDBS.

Fees & payment plans →

Get a written plan

Before anything starts you’ll have a written treatment plan with costs, inclusions and any conditions spelled out, plus an estimate of your health fund rebate checked at the desk.

Book an assessment →

This information is general in nature and is not a substitute for personalised advice from a registered dental practitioner. Any dental or surgical procedure carries risks. Individual results vary. Before proceeding with treatment we encourage you to ask questions and, if you wish, seek a second opinion from a qualified health practitioner.