Tooth removal and wisdom teeth in Palakollu
Simple and surgical extractions, including impacted wisdom teeth, with aftercare instructions you will actually be given in writing.
A tooth is removed when it cannot be saved, or when leaving it will damage what is around it. A simple extraction takes minutes under local anaesthetic. A surgical extraction. Most impacted wisdom teeth, involves a small gum incision, sometimes sectioning the tooth, and stitches. At Care Dental Experts in Palakollu we will always tell you first whether the tooth could realistically be saved instead.
When a tooth genuinely has to go
- The crown is broken below the gum line, leaving nothing to build on
- The root is vertically fractured, no treatment saves these
- Decay has destroyed too much tooth structure to restore
- Severe bone loss from gum disease has left the tooth mobile and painful
- An impacted wisdom tooth is repeatedly infected or damaging the tooth in front of it
- A tooth needs to be removed to create space for orthodontic treatment
- A retained milk tooth is blocking the permanent tooth beneath it
We would rather do a root canal and a crown than an extraction. If the tooth is savable, we will say so, even though extraction is quicker and cheaper for you today.
Wisdom teeth: not all of them need removing
| Situation | Usual recommendation |
|---|---|
| Fully erupted, cleanable, biting normally | Leave it. Keep it clean. |
| Partly erupted, gum flap keeps getting infected | Remove, or laser the flap first |
| Impacted, pressing on the tooth in front | Remove before it damages that tooth |
| Impacted, deep, causing no symptoms | Often monitor, routine removal is not automatic |
| Cyst or repeated infection on the X-ray | Remove |
Aftercare, the part that determines how the week goes
First hour
Bite firmly on the gauze pack. Do not talk much, do not keep checking the socket, do not spit.
First 24 hours
No rinsing at all. No straws. No smoking, gutka or pan. No hot food or drink. A cold pack on the cheek, 15 minutes on and 15 off, reduces swelling.
After 24 hours
Start gentle warm salt-water rinses after meals. Continue brushing the rest of your mouth normally.
Days two to three
Swelling usually peaks and then improves. Soft food. Take the prescribed medication as directed and complete any antibiotic course.
Around day seven
Stitches removed if they are not the dissolving type. Most people feel normal by now.
Bleeding will not stop after 30 minutes of firm gauze pressure, swelling is spreading towards the eye or down the neck, you have difficulty breathing or swallowing, you have a severe throbbing pain that starts three to four days after the extraction and radiates to the ear (this suggests dry socket, which we can treat quickly).
What is dry socket?
The blood clot in the socket is the dressing your body makes for itself. If it is dislodged, by rinsing too soon, smoking, using a straw, or spitting, the bone underneath is exposed and it hurts severely, typically starting three to four days after the extraction. It is treatable: we clean and dress the socket and the pain settles quickly. Smokers get it far more often than non-smokers.
Indicative cost
| Treatment | Indicative range |
|---|---|
| Simple extraction | ₹ [confirm] |
| Surgical extraction | ₹ [confirm] |
| Impacted wisdom tooth removal | ₹ [confirm] |
| Dressing for dry socket | ₹ [confirm] |
Honest limitations
- Every extraction leaves a gap, and the bone in that gap shrinks over the following year. Plan the replacement early, implants are easier before the ridge has resorbed.
- Lower wisdom teeth sit close to a nerve. Numbness of the lip or tongue is an uncommon but real risk, usually temporary. We assess this on the X-ray beforehand and will tell you your specific risk.
- Upper back teeth sit close to the sinus. Occasionally a small communication opens and needs managing.
- Some difficult teeth are better referred for specialist oral surgery. We will refer rather than struggle.
We are empanelled under the Employees Health Scheme (EHS) and the Working Journalists Health Scheme (WJHS). There is an Aarogya Mithra help desk inside our waiting room. Bring these:
- EHS / WJHS health card of the employee, pensioner or journalist
- Aadhaar of the patient
- Employee or pensioner ID, and proof of relationship for a dependent
Common questions
Does having a tooth out hurt?
The extraction itself should not. You will feel firm pressure and hear sounds, but not pain, once the anaesthetic has worked. Tell us if you feel anything sharp and we will add more. The soreness comes afterwards and is usually manageable with the medication we prescribe.
How long is the recovery?
A simple extraction: back to normal in two to three days. A surgical or impacted wisdom tooth: swelling peaks around day two or three, and most people are comfortable within a week. Plan a light day afterwards if you can.
Can I go to work the next day?
After a simple extraction, usually yes. After surgical removal of an impacted wisdom tooth, take the next day off if your work is physical or requires a lot of talking.
Is extraction covered under EHS or WJHS?
Extractions and surgical procedures may fall within the covered list, subject to pre-authorisation by the scheme. Bring your card and our help desk will check before treatment.
Not sure which treatment you need?
Bring your X-rays if you have them, or just bring the tooth that is troubling you. A consultation and examination is the honest first step. We will tell you if you do not need treatment yet.
