Minor surgery at our practice

Some treatments in the mouth are minor procedures that we carry out at our practice. We numb the affected area locally and explain every step before we take it. That way you know at every point what is happening.

Which procedures we carry out

Most often it is a matter of removing a tooth that can no longer be preserved. We also take out wisdom teeth when they cause discomfort or have too little room. In a root tip resection, known as an apicoectomy, we cut away the inflamed tip of a tooth root. It can preserve a tooth when root canal treatment alone is not enough.

Sometimes we uncover a tooth that does not come through by itself. To do so we open the gum above the tooth at a small spot. We also make small corrections to the gums, for example to the lip frenulum, that is the narrow strip of tissue between lip and gum.

How an appointment runs

At the start we look at the area and discuss the next steps with you. Then we numb the region locally. The anaesthetic takes effect after a short time, so the procedure itself involves minimal discomfort for you.

The treatment itself usually takes only a few minutes. At the end we dress the wound, often with a fine suture. We give you a swab and all the instructions for the hours that follow.

What to bear in mind afterwards

For the time after a procedure we have put together separate notes. You will find them in the article What to do after a tooth extraction. There you can read how to cool the area, what to leave out on the first day and when to get in touch with us.

If you are anxious about the procedure

Many patients feel tense before a procedure. Do tell us beforehand, even if it feels awkward to you. We then take more time, explain things calmly and put in breaks as often as you would like. An agreed hand signal is enough for us to stop.

Talk to us

If you do not know whether a procedure is needed in your case, we look at it together. We then discuss with you which routes there are. You decide only afterwards, and we are glad to answer your questions before then.