Buried & Impacted Tooth Extraction in Finchley

You do not always need to remove a buried tooth, but you should seek an assessment if you have specific symptoms. Extraction is often recommended when the tooth causes active problems or is likely to in the future. Key signs include persistent pain or a dull ache at the back of your jaw, recurrent swelling or infection in the gums around the tooth, or an X-ray showing a cyst forming around the tooth. Many patients in their late teens and early twenties have impacted wisdom teeth removed, as they affect up to 75% of young adults. If a buried tooth pushes against a neighbouring molar, it can cause damage or cavities, making extraction a necessary step to protect your other teeth.

Understanding the process helps reduce anxiety. First, you'll have a 45-minute consultation at our Finchley practice, including a 3D CBCT scan. This detailed imaging lets us see the exact position of the tooth, its roots, and its proximity to important nerves. Next, we schedule the extraction, which typically takes 60-90 minutes. The area will be completely numbed with local anaesthetic, so you'll feel pressure but no pain. To access the buried tooth, a small incision is made in the gum. Sometimes, a tiny amount of bone covering the tooth needs to be removed. The tooth might be sectioned into smaller pieces to make it easier to remove gently. Finally, the site is cleaned, and we place dissolvable stitches to help the gum heal.

The first few days bring the most discomfort and swelling. Expect moderate pain around a 5-6 out of 10, which can be managed with over-the-counter painkillers such as ibuprofen. Swelling typically peaks 48 to 72 hours after the procedure. An ice pack on your cheek for 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off helps. You should stick to a soft food diet during this time, such as smoothies, soup, and yoghurt. Avoid hot drinks, alcohol, smoking, and strenuous exercise, as these can dislodge the blood clot and lead to a painful condition called dry socket.

Your body does most healing over the next one to two weeks. Some minor oozing is normal in the first 24 hours. You should call our practice during office hours (Mon, Wed, Fri 9-5; Tue, Thu 11-7) if you experience severe, throbbing pain not relieved by painkillers, a fever, pus from the socket, or swelling that worsens after day three. For severe out-of-hours emergencies, call 111 or visit the nearest A&E. We typically schedule a follow-up a week later to check how healing is progressing.

Extraction is not the only option. If a buried tooth is completely asymptomatic, causing no problems, and has a low risk of future issues, watchful waiting is an option. This means monitoring the tooth with regular X-rays to ensure no cysts or damage occur. For lower wisdom teeth that are very close to the sensory nerve in the jaw, a coronectomy may be safer. This involves removing the crown of the tooth but leaving the roots in place to avoid nerve damage. For example, a recent patient from North Finchley had a buried wisdom tooth with roots wrapped around the nerve. A coronectomy was the safest choice, preventing lip numbness. We discuss all suitable options with you during your consultation.

The cost for a surgical extraction of a buried or impacted tooth at our private Finchley practice starts from £450. The final fee depends on the complexity of the extraction, such as how deep the tooth is and whether it needs to be sectioned. This price includes your initial consultation, the 3D CBCT scan, the surgical procedure itself, and your follow-up appointment. There are no hidden fees. As a private-only practice, we do not offer NHS treatment. However, we do accept plans from major dental insurance providers, including Max Bupa, Denplan, and Cigna. We can provide you with all the necessary documentation to make a claim.

To make an informed choice about your care, whether it is with us or another practice in North London, here are some important questions to ask: How many complex surgical extractions like mine do you perform each year? Based on my 3D scan, what are the specific risks I should be aware of, such as nerve proximity? Is the quoted price all inclusive, covering the scan, procedure, and follow-up care? What happens if I develop a complication like an infection or a dry socket after the procedure? What specific aftercare instructions will you provide? Do you recommend a bone graft in the socket if I plan to replace the tooth with an implant later?