What makes an extraction surgical?
A simple extraction is a tooth that is fully visible and can be loosened and lifted out. A surgical extraction is one where the gum has to be opened, a little bone removed, or the tooth divided into pieces so it can come out without damaging what is around it.
It is the same appointment in the same chair, under local anaesthetic. The difference is in the technique, not the setting.
Why would a tooth need one?
Common reasons are a tooth broken off at the gum line, roots left behind from an old extraction, roots that are curved or very long, and teeth that are buried or only partly through.
Impacted wisdom teeth are the most familiar example. Our guide on when wisdom teeth need to come out covers the cases where leaving one alone is the better choice.
An X-ray, or a CBCT scan where the tooth is close to the nerve or the sinus, shows this before the day, so most of the plan is made before the day.
What happens on the day?
Before the day, tell us about any medicines you take, especially blood thinners or medicines for bone strength, and about any medical conditions. Some of them change how an extraction is planned.
The area is numbed with local anaesthetic first. You will feel pressure and some pushing, but it should not be sharp. If it is, say so, and more anaesthetic can be given.
Stitches are often placed at the end. You are given written aftercare to take home, and a review is booked. If you are anxious about the procedure, sedation options can be discussed beforehand.
What are the first few days like?
Swelling and soreness usually build over the first two or three days and then ease over about a week. Ordinary pain relief, as advised, is usually enough.
For the first day, avoid rinsing hard, spitting forcefully or drinking through a straw, because these can disturb the blood clot that protects the socket while it heals. Stay off smoking for as long as you can, and ask how long in your case. Soft, lukewarm food and chewing on the other side make the first few days easier.
What should you watch for afterwards?
Pain that gets worse a few days later instead of better can mean the clot has been lost from the socket, which is called a dry socket. It is treatable, so call the clinic rather than waiting it out.
Also call if bleeding does not stop with firm pressure on a gauze pad, if swelling is increasing after the third day, if you have a fever, or if numbness of the lip or tongue does not wear off once the anaesthetic should have gone. Swelling spreading into the neck, or difficulty swallowing or breathing, needs a hospital straight away.
Who does surgical extractions at STHIRA?
Dr Bhargav Kuchu, whose specialist training is in oral and maxillofacial surgery, so difficult extractions are done here rather than referred out.
They are done at the clinic under local anaesthetic and you go home the same day. If you are travelling in, our Rai Durg clinic page for Gachibowli patients has the address and timings.
For the full list of procedures done at the clinic, see our page on oral and minor surgical procedures.
Common questions
What is the difference between a simple and a surgical extraction?
A simple extraction lifts out a fully visible tooth. A surgical extraction involves opening the gum, removing a little bone or dividing the tooth so it can be taken out cleanly. Both are usually done under local anaesthetic.
How long does it take to recover from a surgical extraction?
Swelling and soreness usually peak in the first two or three days and ease over about a week. More involved extractions can take longer.
What is a dry socket?
It is when the blood clot is lost from the socket, leaving it painful a few days after the extraction. The pain usually gets worse instead of better. It is treatable, so call the clinic.
Can I smoke after a tooth extraction?
It is best avoided, because smoking can disturb the blood clot and slow healing. Ask how long to wait in your case.