Your dentist will typically administer a local anaesthetic to numb your mouth, so you don’t feel any pain during the procedure. If your tooth extraction is more complex, your dentist may refer you to an oral surgeon. They may need to put you to sleep with a general anaesthetic.

The tooth will then be loosened in the gum by your dentist using a dental tool. They will use forceps to extract the tooth once it has become loose.

If the tooth is impacted, the dentist will cut the gum and bone tissue surrounding it, then hold the tooth with forceps and gently rock it back and forth to free it from the jaw bone and ligaments that keep it in place. A difficult-to-pull tooth may have to be extracted in pieces at times.

After extraction, a blood clot typically forms in the tooth socket. To stop the bleeding, the dentist will place a gauze pad into the socket and have you bite down on it. To close the gum lines over the extraction site, the dentist may insert a few stitches, usually self-dissolving.

There are a few risks associated with tooth extraction. However, if your dentist recommends the treatment, the advantages will certainly outweigh the minor risk of complications.

A few days following the tooth extraction, a blood clot forms in the socket — the hole in the bone where the tooth was pulled. However, if the blood clot does not form or dislodges, the bone inside the socket may become exposed, a problem referred to as “dry socket.” If this occurs, the dentist will cover the affected area with a sedative dressing for a few days to protect it. A new clot will form during this period.

Other risks include:

• Bleeding that persists for more than 12 hours.
• Severe fever and chills, an indication of an infection.
• The feeling of nausea or vomiting.
• Coughing
• Shortness of breath and chest pain.
• Redness and swelling at the extraction site.

Yes, tooth extractions are part of routine dental care that health funds cover.

Many Australians use private health insurance to pay for dental care. Most health insurance plans will only cover around half of the cost, leaving you to cover the rest.

Each health fund has its own set of policies. They differ in terms of what they will cover and how much they will pay. There may also be annual limits on how much you can claim. Before receiving dental care, you might want to check your insurance policy to see what is covered.

The recovery period may vary from person to person. But it usually takes a few days following the surgery. The following measures can help alleviate pain, reduce the risk of infection, and speed your healing.

• If the dentist prescribes pain medication, take them and follow the prescription.
• Bite gently on the moist gauze pad to reduce the bleeding and promote the formation of blood clots. Replace gauze pads before they become soaked with blood. The pad should remain in place three to four hours after the extraction, otherwise.
• Ask the dentist how to apply an ice pack properly to the affected area to reduce swelling.
• Limit and avoid strenuous activities to prevent dislodging of wounds or blood clots.
• Avoid spitting after the procedure to let the blood clot form in the socket.
• Use an antiseptic mouthrinse or rinse with warm saltwater.
• Avoid drinking from a straw for the first 24 hours.
• Opt for soft foods and avoid extremely hot foods.
• Keep brushing and flossing your teeth, and brush your tongue, but avoid brushing the area of extraction.
• Avoiding smoking