Experienced Oral Surgery for Golders Green Patients

Oral surgery is needed when a tooth cannot be saved or if it threatens your overall oral health. You should consider a consultation if you have persistent pain from an impacted wisdom tooth with no room to grow, or a severely broken or decayed tooth that cannot be repaired with a filling or crown. It is also a common step before dental implants, where an extraction creates a healthy foundation for the new tooth. Many of our patients from Golders Green visit us for an assessment when they notice swelling in the gums, difficulty opening the mouth, or after a general dentist advises removal.

First, you will have a 60 minute consultation where we take a 3D CBCT scan to get a detailed view of your tooth, nerves, and jawbone. This allows us to plan the surgery with complete accuracy. The surgical procedure itself typically takes between 30 and 90 minutes. We will make sure the area is completely numb with local anaesthetic, so you will only feel pressure, not pain. Next, the tooth is carefully removed. For impacted teeth, a small incision in the gum is needed. Finally, the site is cleaned, and we may place a few stitches to help it heal. You will receive full aftercare instructions before you leave, and we will schedule a follow-up appointment for 7 to 10 days later to check on your healing.

The first 72 hours are when you will experience the most discomfort and swelling. Expect moderate soreness, which you can manage with over the counter painkillers like ibuprofen. Use an ice pack on your cheek for 20 minutes at a time to reduce swelling. Stick to a diet of soft foods like soup, yogurt, and smoothies. It is vital you avoid smoking and drinking through a straw, as this can dislodge the blood clot and lead to a painful condition called dry socket.

By this point, swelling and discomfort should be noticeably better. You can start reintroducing more solid foods as you feel comfortable, but continue to avoid chewing on the extraction site. Keep the area clean by gently rinsing with warm salt water after meals. You can resume light activities, but avoid strenuous exercise for at least a week. Red flags to watch for: if you notice increasing pain after day 4, a fever, or a bad taste from the socket, call our practice during office hours (Mon/Wed/Fri 9 to 5, Tue/Thu 11 to 7).

While extraction is often necessary, there can be alternatives. If a tooth is badly infected but still structurally sound, root canal treatment may be an option to save it. This involves removing the infected pulp and sealing the tooth, avoiding the need for removal. For lower wisdom teeth where the roots are very close to a major nerve, a coronectomy might be safer. This involves removing only the crown of the tooth and leaving the roots in place to avoid potential nerve damage. We will discuss all suitable options with you during your consultation at our Finchley practice.

To help you make an informed choice about your care, whether with us or another practice in North London, here are important questions to ask: how many procedures of this type you perform each year, what the total cost includes and whether it covers the 3D scan and follow-up visits, based on the scan what are the specific risks in my case, what happens if I have complications after hours, whether you recommend a bone graft after the extraction to prepare for a future implant, and whether you accept my dental insurance such as Denplan or Cigna.

The cost of oral surgery depends on the complexity of your case. For example, removing an impacted wisdom tooth requires a more intricate procedure than a simple extraction. During your initial consultation, after reviewing your 3D CBCT scan, we will provide a detailed treatment plan and a clear, transparent fee with no hidden costs. We are a private only practice and do not offer NHS services. However, we accept several major private dental insurance plans, including Max Bupa, Denplan, and Cigna. Please let our team know if you have coverage so we can assist with the paperwork.