Pain & emergency
Tooth extractions, when keeping the tooth isn't the right answer.
Simple and tissue-impacted extractions in-house. Complex bone-impaction cases referred to a specialist oral surgeon. We always discuss whether the tooth could be saved first.
When extraction is the right call
Pulling a tooth is rarely the first option — we usually exhaust the tooth-saving alternatives first. Common situations where extraction does become the right answer:
- Decay beyond what a filling or crown can support — sometimes a tooth has lost too much structure for restorative work to hold
- Failed root canal — when retreatment or apical surgery isn't viable or won't change the outcome
- Severe periodontal disease with bone loss past the point of saving the tooth
- Fractured roots that can't be predictably restored
- Crowding before orthodontic treatment — selectively removing teeth to create space for alignment
- Wisdom teeth causing recurrent infections, decay in adjacent teeth, or pain (note — complex bone-impacted wisdom teeth refer out, see below)
- Baby teeth that aren't shedding when they should, or that have abscessed
If extraction is on the table, we'll explain why and what the alternatives are. The decision is yours.
How we work — simple in-house, complex referred
Oracare provides simple extractions and tissue-impacted surgical extractions in-house. That covers most cases where a tooth needs to come out — including teeth that are still partially buried under gum tissue.
For complex bone-impacted cases — typically wisdom teeth fully buried in bone, requiring bone removal or tooth-sectioning techniques — we refer to Focus Oral & Facial Surgery. They're experienced oral surgeons who do these cases daily and have the imaging and sedation options that complex impactions sometimes need.
We assess at consultation, with X-rays, which path your case fits. If it's in-house we book it directly; if it's referral we coordinate the letter and stay your dental home through the surrounding care.
What to expect — in-house
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Step 1
Numb the area. Topical anaesthetic on the gum, then local anaesthetic to fully numb the tooth and surrounding tissues. Within a few minutes you'll feel pressure but no pain.
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Step 2
Extraction. Simple extractions usually take 5–15 minutes; tissue-impacted surgical cases 20–45 minutes. You'll feel pressure, vibration and movement — but not pain. We talk you through what we're doing so nothing is a surprise.
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Step 3
Stop the bleeding. Once the tooth is out, we place gauze over the socket and have you bite down for 20–30 minutes. Most sockets are well-clotted by the time you leave. We talk through aftercare before you go.
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Aftercare
First 24 hours. Avoid hot drinks, hard chewing on that side, drinking through a straw, and smoking — all of these can dislodge the clot and slow healing. Pain peaks at 24–48 hours and settles over the following few days. Most patients are back to normal eating within a week.
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Follow-up
Review at 1–2 weeks if it was a surgical extraction or there were sutures to remove. Simple extractions usually don't need a separate follow-up unless something feels off. Call us anytime if pain worsens unexpectedly or you're worried.
Common questions
Will it hurt?
Local anaesthetic is standard, and most patients describe the procedure as pressure rather than pain. You may feel vibration and movement during the extraction itself — that's normal and not painful. Some discomfort after the anaesthetic wears off (1–3 hours later) is expected; over-the-counter pain relief usually handles it. If pain is severe, worsens after day 3, or comes with fever or swelling, call us — those signs can indicate dry socket or infection that needs review.
What's "dry socket" and should I worry?
Dry socket happens when the blood clot in the socket dislodges before the gum heals over — exposing the underlying bone, which is painful. It's most common in lower-jaw extractions, in smokers, and in patients who drank through a straw or rinsed too vigorously in the first 24 hours. It's uncomfortable but treatable — we pack the socket with a medicated dressing and the pain usually settles within a day. If you have throbbing pain that gets worse 3–5 days after extraction, call us.
How long does the healing take?
The soft tissue closes over in 1–2 weeks. The bone underneath continues to heal and remodel over 2–3 months — which is why we usually wait this long before placing a bridge or implant in the same site (though immediate-load implants are a separate consideration). Most patients are back to normal eating within a week and forget about the extraction within a month.
Will I be put to sleep for it?
We don't offer general anaesthetic or IV sedation in-house. Local anaesthetic is what we use for in-house extractions — and for the vast majority of cases, that's all that's needed. If a complex case warrants sedation, we refer to a specialist oral surgeon who offers that option.
What about my wisdom teeth?
Wisdom teeth that are partially through the gum (tissue-impacted) and causing problems can usually be removed in-house. Fully bone-impacted wisdom teeth — sitting deep in the jaw, often horizontally angled — are referred to an oral surgeon. We take an X-ray at consultation and tell you straight which path your case fits.
What replaces the tooth afterwards?
It depends on which tooth, your bite, and what you want functionally and aesthetically. Common options:
- Dental implant — specialist places the implant, we restore. Often the preferred long-term option for single-tooth replacement when you're a candidate.
- Bridge — uses adjacent teeth as anchors. Faster than an implant; involves work on the neighbouring teeth.
- Denture — removable, faster, lower-cost. Good for multi-tooth replacement.
- Sometimes nothing — for some wisdom teeth or molars further back, no replacement is needed.
We discuss all options before extraction so you can decide on the full plan in advance, not just the part that gets the tooth out.
Will my health fund cover it?
Most extras policies rebate part of extractions under general dental cover. Tissue-impacted surgical extractions rebate at higher item-code levels than simple ones — we claim these through HICAPS at the chair. Bone-impacted cases referred to a specialist oral surgeon are billed by the specialist's clinic, not at Oracare. We coordinate the case but the financial relationship for the surgical fee is between you and them. See Payment options.
Cost & funding
HICAPS on the spot for in-house work. Tissue-impacted surgical cases rebate at higher item-code levels than simple extractions. Referred bone-impaction surgery is billed by the specialist clinic, not at Oracare. Interest-free in-house payment plans available for combined extraction + replacement plans. Full detail on Payment options.
Related services
Got a tooth that needs to come out?
Start with a consultation — we'll explain the path, the alternatives if any, and the replacement plan all in one visit. Book online or call to chat first.