Dental Practice, Kennington
Tooth Extraction in Kennington
Taking a tooth out is the last resort, not the first — but when a tooth genuinely can't be saved, having it removed calmly and properly is a relief rather than an ordeal. From £200, under local anaesthetic.
- Simple extraction from £200
- Wisdom teeth from £400
- Sedation available for anxious patients
- We try to save the tooth first
When does a tooth need to come out?
A tooth is extracted when it cannot be repaired or saved — usually because of severe decay, a fracture below the gum line, advanced gum disease, or an impacted wisdom tooth causing problems.
Our first question is always whether the tooth can be kept. A filling, a crown or root canal treatment will save many teeth that look beyond help, and keeping your own tooth is almost always better than replacing it.
Extraction is the right answer when:
- The tooth is broken below the gum, so there's nothing left to build on.
- Decay has destroyed too much of the tooth for a crown to hold.
- Advanced gum disease has loosened it beyond saving.
- An infection won't settle and root canal treatment isn't possible or hasn't worked.
- A wisdom tooth is impacted and causing repeated infection, decay or damage to the tooth in front.
- There isn't room — occasionally a tooth is removed to make space as part of orthodontic treatment.
The first question is always whether the tooth can be kept. Extraction is the answer only when a filling, a crown or root canal treatment can't save it.
Wisdom teeth
Wisdom teeth only need removing if they are causing problems. A wisdom tooth that has come through cleanly and causes no trouble is best left alone.
They're the last teeth to arrive, usually in your late teens or twenties, and there often isn't room for them. When one is stuck at an angle — impacted — it can trap food and bacteria against the tooth in front, which is where the trouble starts.
Signs a wisdom tooth is a problem
- Repeated swelling, soreness or infection of the gum over the tooth.
- A bad taste or persistent bad breath coming from the back of the mouth.
- Difficulty opening your jaw, or pain radiating towards the ear.
- Decay in the wisdom tooth or in the tooth in front of it, which is very hard to clean.
Some wisdom teeth are too deeply impacted, or too close to the nerve, to be removed safely in a dental practice. If yours is one of those, we'll tell you and refer you to a hospital oral surgery department rather than attempt it here.
Step by step
What happens on the day
Assessment and X-ray
An X-ray shows the shape and length of the roots and how close they sit to nearby structures, which is what tells us whether it's a simple extraction or a more involved one.
Numbing the area
Numbing gel first, then local anaesthetic, with time given for it to take full effect. You'll feel firm pressure and movement during the extraction — that's normal — but you should not feel pain. If you do, say so and we'll add more.
The extraction itself
Usually quicker than people expect. A tooth is loosened and lifted out rather than pulled; the pressure is the part patients notice. A more difficult or impacted tooth may need a small incision and stitches.
Stopping the bleeding
You'll bite on a gauze pad for around 10 minutes until a clot forms. That clot is what heals the socket, so protecting it over the next day matters.
Aftercare instructions
You'll go home with clear written instructions and know exactly who to ring if anything worries you.
Looking after the socket afterwards
Healing is usually straightforward. Nearly all of it comes down to protecting the blood clot in the socket for the first 24 hours.
For the rest of the first day
- Don't rinse your mouth — it washes the clot away.
- No smoking, which significantly raises the risk of a painful dry socket.
- No alcohol, hot drinks or strenuous exercise.
- Don't poke the socket with your tongue or anything else.
- Eat soft food on the other side, and take ordinary painkillers as directed on the packet if you need them.
From the next day
- Rinse gently with warm salt water several times a day, especially after eating.
- Keep brushing your other teeth normally, avoiding the socket itself.
Ring us if
- The pain gets worse after two or three days rather than better — that can be a dry socket, which is easily treated but needs seeing.
- Bleeding doesn't stop after 10–15 minutes of firm pressure on a gauze pad.
- You develop swelling with a temperature, or swelling that spreads. Difficulty breathing or swallowing means A&E or 999, not a dentist.
What happens to the gap?
Worth thinking about before the tooth comes out rather than after. A gap doesn't stay a neutral space: the teeth either side gradually tilt into it, the tooth above or below drifts down, and the bone in that area slowly shrinks.
Your options are a dental implant (from £2,000), a bridge (£850 per unit), a denture (from £850 per arch), or leaving it — which is a reasonable choice for a back wisdom tooth and rarely a good one anywhere else. We'll talk it through before the extraction, so you're deciding with a clear head rather than while numb.
Fees
How much does a tooth extraction cost in Kennington?
| Treatment | Price |
|---|---|
| Simple extraction | from £200 |
| Extraction of special difficulty | from £400 |
| Wisdom tooth extraction | from £400 |
| Examination | £45 |
| Small X-ray (each) | £20 |
You'll be told which category your tooth falls into, and the price, before anything is booked.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to have a tooth out in London?
At Pure Elegant Smile a simple extraction starts at £200, and an extraction of special difficulty or a wisdom tooth starts at £400. An examination is £45 and X-rays are £20 each.
Does having a tooth out hurt?
The area is fully numbed first, so you should feel firm pressure and movement but not pain. Afterwards there's usually some soreness for a few days, which ordinary painkillers manage well.
How long does it take to heal?
The gum surface closes over in about a week to ten days, and the socket underneath fills in over the following weeks. Most people are comfortable within a few days and back to normal eating within a week.
What is a dry socket?
It's when the blood clot in the socket is lost too early, leaving the bone exposed. It causes a deep, throbbing ache that starts two to three days after the extraction and often reaches the ear. It's not dangerous and is easily treated — ring us and we'll dress the socket for you.
Do wisdom teeth always need removing?
No. A wisdom tooth that has come through cleanly, can be kept clean and isn't causing trouble should be left alone. Removal is for teeth causing repeated infection, decay, or damage to the tooth in front.
Can I be sedated for an extraction?
Yes. Oral and inhalation sedation is available for anxious patients — tell us when you book so the appointment can be arranged with that in mind.
Can I go back to work afterwards?
After a simple extraction, most people can. After a more difficult or surgical removal it's sensible to plan a quiet rest of the day, and to avoid strenuous exercise for 24 hours.
Will you try to save my tooth first?
Always, where it's realistic. A filling, crown or root canal treatment saves a great many teeth that look beyond help. We'll tell you honestly when a tooth can be kept and when it genuinely can't.
Book an assessment
Come in and find out whether the tooth can be saved — and if it can't, get it dealt with calmly, with the gap planned for in advance.
Or call us on 0203 950 6620
Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 10am–7pm · Closed Wed, Sat, Sun97 Kennington Lane, London, SE11 4HQ
Reviewed by Dr Nader Gavgani, GDC 75484