Stops the problem at its source
Removing the tooth takes away the cause of the pain and infection, rather than masking it with painkillers.
Oral Surgery
Tooth extraction, when a tooth cannot be saved, a gentle way out
No one wants a tooth taken out. But sometimes it is the right call, and putting it off only makes things worse. If a tooth is too damaged or infected to keep, removing it deals with the source of the problem and can relieve the pain and help stop it spreading.
The Treatment
Removing a tooth that cannot be saved
A tooth extraction means removing a tooth that is past the point of repair. We always try to keep your own teeth first, with a filling, a crown or root canal treatment. When none of those will work, taking the tooth out is the sensible step. It is a common procedure done under local anaesthetic, so the area is fully numb before we start.
You will find us at 80 Hutcheson Street in Merchant City, two minutes off Argyle Street on foot, with Queen Street station and the St Enoch subway close by, so getting to us at short notice is rarely a problem. We see people for planned extractions and for urgent ones, including teeth that have broken, abscessed or flared up out of nowhere. Because we are open day and night, every day, you do not have to sit with the pain until a weekday slot comes free.
Wisdom teeth deserve their own mention. An impacted wisdom tooth is one that has not come through properly and sits at an angle, or partly buried in the gum or jawbone. Lower wisdom teeth are the most common surgical case, and they carry the specific dry socket and nerve considerations covered further down this page, so assessment always starts with an X-ray and a proper conversation about what yours needs.
If you are nervous, say so when you book. Plenty of people put off having a tooth out for years because they dread it, which is exactly what our nervous patients approach is for. We will talk you through what is happening at each step, work at your pace, and keep the surprises to a minimum. For most people the worst part is the worry beforehand, not the procedure itself.
Is This You?
Is a damaged tooth causing you grief?
A tooth that is beyond saving rarely settles on its own. When decay, an infection or a crack has gone too deep, leaving the tooth in place tends to make things worse, not better.
Taking it out is often the turning point: the source of the infection goes with it, the area can finally start to heal, and the teeth around it are no longer under threat. If the thought makes you anxious, tell us when you book and we will take it at whatever speed you need.
After the Tooth Comes Out
What about the gap?
Once a tooth comes out, the teeth either side can slowly drift into the space and your bite can change, so it is worth deciding what happens to the gap before the tooth is removed. Not every gap needs filling: a back tooth out of sight can sometimes be left alone, and we will tell you if that applies to you. These are the main options.
Dental implant
A titanium post placed in the jaw with a crown on top. The closest thing to getting your own tooth back, and it does not lean on the teeth either side.
View treatment →Dental bridge
A false tooth anchored to the teeth next to the gap. No surgery involved, and bridges commonly last 10 years or more with good care.
View treatment →Partial denture
A removable plate carrying one or more false teeth. The simplest starting point, and easy to add to if you lose another tooth later.
View treatment →Why Patients Choose It
Why an extraction can be the right call
Protects the teeth around it
An infected or failing tooth can drag its neighbours down with it. Taking it out helps keep the rest of your mouth healthy.
A clear plan for the gap
You know your replacement options before the tooth comes out, so nothing is a surprise afterwards.
Help when it is urgent
We hold same-day emergency slots every day and aim to see you quickly when a tooth suddenly gets worse.
Fully numb before we start
Local anaesthetic as standard, with the area fully numb before any work begins.
A calm approach
A step-by-step approach for nervous patients, working at your pace.
How It Works
What happens on the day
01
We check and explain
We check your X-ray and your medical history, then explain what we are going to do.
02
We numb the area
We numb the area with local anaesthetic. We wait until it has fully taken hold before starting.
03
A simple extraction
For a simple extraction, we loosen the tooth and ease it out. You feel firm pressure and some movement, not sharp pain.
04
A surgical extraction
For a surgical extraction, we make a small opening in the gum and sometimes remove the tooth in sections. You may need a stitch or two afterwards.
05
We control the bleeding
We place a gauze pad over the socket and ask you to bite down firmly to control the bleeding.
06
We go through aftercare
Before you leave, we go through your aftercare and tell you what is normal and what is not. You can arrange a follow-up if you need one, and you can always contact us if something is not settling.
Aftercare
Looking after the socket
The first 24 hours matter most. A blood clot forms in the socket and acts like a plaster over the wound. Looking after that clot really matters.
The first few hours
- Bite firmly on the gauze pad for about 30 to 45 minutes to help the clot form.
- Wait until the numbness wears off before you eat, and stick to soft food for the rest of the day.
- You can sip cool water to stay hydrated, but avoid hot drinks for the first 24 hours.
- Rest. Avoid heavy lifting, bending and hard exercise for the rest of the day.
- An ice pack against the cheek, roughly 10 to 20 minutes on and then off, helps with swelling.
- For pain, ordinary over-the-counter painkillers usually do the job. Avoid aspirin, as it can make bleeding worse.
The first 24 hours
- Do not rinse, spit, or swish anything around your mouth.
- Do not poke the socket with your tongue or finger.
- No straws, no smoking and no vaping. The suction and the heat can pull the clot loose.
- No alcohol.
- Eat soft food and chew on the other side of your mouth.
- You can brush your teeth gently that evening, but keep the brush away from the socket.
From the next day
- Start rinsing very gently with warm salt water, about a teaspoon of salt in a mug of warm water, two or three times a day. Do this after meals for several days.
- Keep eating soft food until chewing feels comfortable.
- Hold off on smoking and vaping for as long as you can. The longer you wait, the lower your risk of problems.
- If the socket starts bleeding again at home, do not panic. Roll up a clean piece of gauze or cotton wool, place it over the socket, and bite down firmly for about 30 minutes while sitting quietly. If heavy bleeding will not stop, call us.
- If swelling is getting worse after two to three days, you develop a fever, or it becomes hard to swallow or to open your mouth, contact us straight away. These are signs of spreading infection, and our emergency dentist service is there for exactly this.
- If anything else is not settling, contact us. You can arrange a follow-up if you need one.
Risks and realities
What to expect, and what to watch for
For many people, any discomfort eases over the following days. If it does flare up before it settles, that is not unusual and not a sign something has gone wrong.
Some swelling and bruising around the cheek and jaw is common, especially after a surgical extraction. It settles over a few days.
Dry socket is the main thing to watch for. It happens when the clot does not form or gets dislodged, leaving the bone exposed. It causes a deep, throbbing ache a few days after the extraction, often with a bad taste. The risk is higher with lower wisdom teeth and higher if you smoke. If you think you have it, contact us so we can help settle it.
Infection and prolonged bleeding are less common but possible.
With lower wisdom teeth, there is a small risk of numbness or tingling in the lip, chin or tongue if a root sits close to a nerve. Any altered feeling is usually temporary, but very rarely it can last longer or be permanent, which is why we check your X-ray and talk the specific risk through with you before we start.
Stitches, if you need them, are usually the dissolving kind and gone within about one to two weeks.
Common Questions
Tooth extraction questions, answered
Does having a tooth taken out hurt?
The area is fully numb under local anaesthetic, so you should not feel sharp pain. You will feel pressure and some pushing, and hear a bit of noise. If you feel anything sharp, tell us and we will add more anaesthetic.
How long does it take?
A simple extraction often takes only a few minutes once you are numb. A surgical extraction, or a difficult wisdom tooth, takes longer. We will give you a realistic idea on the day.
What is the difference between a simple and a surgical extraction?
A simple extraction is for a tooth we can grip above the gum and ease out. A surgical extraction is for a tooth that is broken at the gum line, buried or impacted. It involves a small opening in the gum and sometimes removing the tooth in pieces.
Do you remove wisdom teeth?
Yes. Impacted, partly erupted or repeatedly infected wisdom teeth are among the most common reasons for a surgical extraction. We assess yours with an X-ray first, because lower wisdom teeth can sit close to the nerve that gives feeling to the lip, chin and tongue, and we go through the risks that apply to your tooth before anything is decided. If a tooth looks better suited to a specialist oral surgeon, we will say so.
What is dry socket and how do I avoid it?
Dry socket is when the protective blood clot in the socket does not form or comes loose, leaving the bone exposed and very sore a few days later. You lower your risk by leaving the clot alone for 24 hours: no rinsing, spitting, straws, smoking or vaping. The risk is higher if you smoke, so the longer you can hold off, the better.
What can I eat and drink afterwards?
Wait until the numbness wears off before you eat, then stick to soft food such as soup, yoghurt, mashed potato, pasta or scrambled egg. You can sip cool water to stay hydrated, but avoid hot drinks, alcohol and anything through a straw for the first 24 hours. Chew on the opposite side and avoid anything crunchy or small enough to lodge in the socket until it has healed.
Will I be able to drive afterwards?
Local anaesthetic does not stop you driving. Only drive if you feel well and steady. If you feel shaky or unwell after the appointment, arrange a lift home rather than driving yourself.
Will I need antibiotics?
Not usually. Antibiotics are only needed if there is a spreading infection, not as a routine part of an extraction. If you do need them, we will explain why and what to take.
When can I go back to work and normal activity?
Many people are fine the next day after a simple extraction. Rest on the day itself and avoid hard exercise, heavy lifting and bending for the first 24 hours. After a surgical extraction or wisdom tooth, give yourself a little longer.
Can I be seen the same day if I am in a lot of pain?
Yes, that is exactly what we are set up for. We hold emergency slots every day and aim to see you quickly. Call us, tell us what is happening, and we will make a plan to settle the pain.
What should I do right now if a tooth flares up in the middle of the night?
Take over-the-counter painkillers that normally suit you, following the packet instructions, and avoid aspirin because it can make any bleeding worse. A cold compress against the cheek for ten minutes at a time helps, keeping your head raised on an extra pillow often eases the throbbing, and a gentle warm salt water rinse can calm an angry gum. If part of the tooth has broken off, keep the pieces. Then call us. We answer day and night, every day, and we will talk you through what to do next and arrange for you to be seen.
How much does a tooth extraction cost?
Every mouth is different, so the honest answer is that it depends on you: whether the tooth needs a simple or a surgical extraction, how many roots it has and how curved they are, whether it has broken at the gum line, and whether a wisdom tooth is involved. At your consultation the dentist will go through your options and the cost of each, and you will get a written, itemised quote before anything is agreed. Nothing goes ahead until you are happy.
Can I have a tooth taken out on the NHS in Scotland?
NHS dental examinations are free for everyone in Scotland. NHS dental treatment is free if you are under 26, pregnant or have given birth in the last 12 months, or qualify for a low-income exemption. The NHS urgent route is NHS 24 on 111 out of hours and the Glasgow Dental Hospital. If you would rather call us, we will set out your options and what each would cost before you decide anything.
Are there alternatives to taking the tooth out?
Sometimes. If the tooth can be saved, a filling, a crown or root canal treatment may be a better route. We only recommend removing a tooth when keeping it is not realistic, and we will talk you through which is the better route for you.
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