Tooth extractions in Durban North
When a tooth can't be saved, we take it out under local anaesthetic, including wisdom teeth that have fully come through.
If a tooth is hurting, call us on 031 563 2473 and say so: we see people in pain as soon as we can during practice hours.
When a tooth needs to come out
A tooth-coloured filling can often save a decayed tooth. Taking it out is the better choice when:
- decay or a break has gone too far for the tooth to be rebuilt;
- gum disease has damaged the gum and bone that hold the tooth, and it has worked loose;
- a wisdom tooth keeps causing pain or infection, or traps food that leads to decay.
If you're not sure whether yours can be saved, book a check-up and we'll look at it with you.
Wisdom teeth that have come through
We take these out here, after an X-ray shows how the tooth sits. One that gives you no trouble is usually left where it is and checked at your regular check-ups.
What happens at your extraction
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Step 1: Check and X-ray
We examine the tooth and, where needed, take an X-ray to see the roots and the bone around them. Tell us about any medicines you take.
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Step 2: Numbing
The area is numbed with local anaesthetic, and we check it has worked before we begin.
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Step 3: Removing the tooth
The tooth is loosened and lifted out, with as little disturbance to the gum and bone as possible.
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Step 4: Gauze and aftercare
You bite on gauze to stop the bleeding, and we go through how to look after the socket before you go home.
How it feels
Once the anaesthetic has worked, you feel the tooth move as it loosens, but not sharp pain. Afterwards the area is sore for a few days, often at its worst around day three, and then it settles.
Looking after the socket
For the first day:
- bite on the gauze for about 15 minutes at a time until the bleeding settles;
- rest, and hold a cold pack against your cheek;
- eat soft food once the numbness has gone.
For the first few days, skip straws, smoking, vaping, spitting and hard rinsing, because they can dislodge the blood clot that protects the socket. Read extraction aftercare, day by day for the rest.
Dry socket: when to call us
Dry socket happens when the blood clot in the socket is lost or doesn't form. It causes severe pain one to three days after the extraction, often spreading towards the ear. Call us if you think you have it, and we'll treat it.
Replacing the tooth
Once the gum has healed, usually within a few weeks, you can decide whether to fill the gap. For one missing tooth, a fibre bridge is often possible here: a tooth built in tooth-coloured composite and bonded to the teeth either side, without surgery. To plan it before the tooth comes out, ask us at your appointment, or compare the ways to replace one tooth.
Investing in your teeth
The cost of an extraction depends mostly on which tooth it is. We accept medical aid, card and cash, and you can ask about paying in instalments. Read what a dental visit costs.
Call us if you notice any of these
- A fever of 38°C or higher
- Pus around the socket
- Bleeding that will not stop with firm pressure on fresh gauze
- Pain that painkillers do not help
Go to a hospital emergency unit straight away if swelling spreads towards your eye or neck, or you have trouble breathing or swallowing.
Having a tooth out with us
Including baby teeth, as part of our children's dental care.
Ask when you book for headphones, a blanket and pillow, softer lighting or a stress ball to hold. See the comfort menu.
If a tooth flares up at the end of the week, you don't have to wait for Monday. We're open on Saturdays from 9am to 12pm.
Your questions about tooth extractions
One tooth usually takes 30 to 60 minutes. Allow longer if you need a check-up and X-ray first.
Sometimes. Stitches go in when the socket needs them, and before you leave we tell you whether they dissolve on their own or need to come out.
Yes. Needed dental treatment, including local anaesthetic, can go ahead in pregnancy, and treatment that can wait is often planned for the second trimester. Tell us you're pregnant when you book.
We give you the cost at your appointment, once we've looked at the tooth. Our guide to what a dental visit costs explains how dental fees and medical aid work.
We take teeth out under local anaesthetic at Durban Dental Care, North Coast Road Medical Centre, 490 Chris Hani Road, Park Hill, Durban North. Call 031 563 2473 or send us a WhatsApp to book.
Book an extraction
Treatments that go with an extraction
Check-ups and X-rays
Catch decay and gum problems early. We examine your teeth, gums and mouth, and take X-rays only where they're needed.
Fillings
A cavity, a cracked old filling or a small chip repaired in composite matched to the shade of your tooth.
Fibre bridge
Replace one missing tooth with a tooth-coloured bridge built in the chair and bonded to the teeth either side, without surgery.
