Oral surgery and extractions
Oral surgery covers removing teeth that cannot be saved, by a simple extraction or a surgical one, and other minor surgery in the mouth. At Suman Dental Care it is carried out by Dr. Ohm Rajani, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon with an MDS in oral and maxillofacial surgery. For wisdom teeth, see wisdom tooth removal.
Step by step
Oral surgery and extractions
- Before
- Treatment
- After
One surgical visit of 30–60 minutes, a review at about 7 days, and most people back to normal activity in 3–5 days.
A tooth is removed when keeping it would cause more harm than taking it out: repeated infection, pain, or damage to the teeth and bone around it. The dentist first checks whether it can be saved with a filling, a root canal or a crown. The gap can later be filled with an implant, a bridge or a denture.
- A tooth too broken down or decayed to be repaired
- An infected tooth that cannot be saved with a root canal
- A tooth loosened by advanced gum disease
- A wisdom tooth causing repeated pain or swelling
- A tooth the orthodontist advises removing to make space
Bite on gauze for 30–45 minutes to control bleeding. The numbness lasts 2–4 hours; do not eat until it wears off. Use cold packs on the cheek for the first 24 hours. Swelling peaks around day 2–3 and goes down by day 5–7. Mild bruising and some jaw stiffness are common.
Eat soft, cool food for the first 2 days. Do not rinse, spit, smoke or drink through a straw for 24 hours, because they can dislodge the clot. From day 2, rinse gently with warm salt water after meals.
See the full extraction aftercare card. See also what to do in a dental emergency.
- Dry socket: the clot is lost and the socket becomes painful around day 3–5. It is more likely after lower back teeth are removed and is treated with a dressing.
- Swelling and bruising are expected and peak at day 2–3.
- Numb lip, chin or tongue: the roots of lower back teeth can lie close to a nerve. Numbness is usually temporary, and a scan is used to plan around the nerve.
- Infection can follow any extraction. See a doctor urgently if swelling spreads with fever, or if you have trouble swallowing or breathing.
- Upper teeth: the root of an upper tooth can lie close to the sinus.
- Bleeding after surgery is common for a few hours and settles with firm pressure.
What affects the cost
We don't publish prices online. After an examination you get a written estimate that lists each item.
- Examination and X-ray
- Local anaesthetic
- The extraction, with stitches if needed
- Written aftercare instructions
- A review visit
Who does it
Dr. Ohm Rajani
MDS, Oral & Maxillofacial SurgeryExtractions, wisdom tooth removal and implant surgery.Medically reviewed by Dr. Nimisha Pandya, BDS, on 2026-10-31
Questions patients ask
Does a tooth always have to come out if it hurts?
No. Most painful teeth can be saved with a filling, a root canal or gum treatment. Extraction is advised only when the tooth cannot be restored or keeps causing infection.
Is having a tooth removed painful?
The area is numbed with local anaesthetic, so you feel pressure and movement but not pain. The soreness afterwards is controlled with your usual pain relief for a few days.
How long is the recovery?
After a simple extraction most people are comfortable within a few days. After a surgical one, swelling peaks at day 2–3 and most people are back to normal activity in 3–5 days. Full healing of the gum takes a few weeks.
What about wisdom teeth?
Wisdom teeth have their own page: wisdom tooth removal. It covers when removal is advised, how an impacted tooth is taken out and recovery.
What is dry socket?
The blood clot in the socket is lost and the bone is exposed, causing a deep ache around day 3–5 that pain relief does not ease. Call us. A medicated dressing relieves it.
When is an extraction better than a root canal?
When a tooth cannot be restored, for example because it is badly cracked or has too little tooth left. Read root canal or extraction?
Can I replace an extracted tooth?
Yes, with an implant, a bridge or a denture. Your dentist will advise when the gum has healed.
After a tooth extraction
What to do after treatment, day by day.
Questions about this treatment?
Send a WhatsApp message or book an examination. The dentist explains the options before anything starts.