Oral Surgery & Extractions in Taupō

We would always rather save a tooth than remove one. But some teeth are beyond restoring: badly broken, split below the gum, severely decayed, or so heavily infected that treatment would not hold. In those cases the best thing for the rest of your mouth is to take the tooth out cleanly and plan what comes next.

Extractions have a reputation that modern dentistry has largely left behind. With proper anaesthesia the procedure itself is not painful, and most people find the reality far less daunting than the anticipation.

When a tooth may need removing

• Decay or fracture too extensive to restore
• A tooth split below the gumline
• Advanced gum disease that has destroyed the supporting bone
• Impacted wisdom teeth causing pain, infection or damage to the tooth in front
• Baby teeth that will not come out on their own
• Crowding, where space is needed as part of orthodontic treatment

Wisdom teeth

Not every wisdom tooth needs removing. If it has come through cleanly, is easy to keep clean and is not causing trouble, it can usually stay. We take a radiograph to see the position and roots, and recommend removal when the tooth is impacted, repeatedly infected, or damaging the tooth next to it. More complex cases are referred to a specialist.

Afterwards

• Bite gently on the gauze pad for the first half hour to let a clot form
• Avoid rinsing, spitting, smoking or drinking through a straw for 24 hours. All of these can dislodge the clot
• Stick to soft food and lukewarm drinks for the first day
• An ice pack on the outside of the cheek helps with swelling
• Take pain relief as advised, and phone us if pain worsens after two or three days rather than improving

Replacing the tooth

Once the site has healed, a gap can be filled with a bridge, an implant or a partial denture. We will go through the options and the costs, including what tends to happen if you choose to leave the gap. See restorative dentistry for more.