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Tooth extraction - simple or surgical, done well.

Simple, surgical and multiple tooth extractions by a consultant oral surgeon or specialist dentist. Panoramic imaging up front, sedation options explained honestly, and a written plan for the socket, the bone and - where relevant - the implant that follows.

See indicative pricing
A radiographer guides a patient onto the bed of an advanced 3 Tesla MRI scanner in a London imaging suite

Indicative pricing

What tooth extraction costs privately in the UK.

Indicative ranges across our partner units.

In short

£320–£680, home the same visit.

Procedure Indicative range
Simple single extraction (LA) £180–£380
Surgical single extraction (LA) £320–£680
Multiple extractions (2–6 teeth) £550–£1,650
Full dental clearance under GA £3,500–£6,500
IV sedation supplement £350–£650
Ridge preservation (socket graft) £280–£520 per site
OPG panoramic radiograph £65–£130

Prices vary by hospital, by the consultant, and by complexity.

The problem

Every extraction is planned around the socket that follows.

General dental practice does the extraction well but often skips the three conversations that matter - the alternative, the sedation, and the socket after.

  • Is extraction the right answer?

    Root canal, restoration, or crown lengthening might save the tooth. We ask that question first, on your imaging, not after you have already booked the extraction.

  • The right sedation for the right anxiety

    Local alone, oral pre-med, IV sedation, nitrous, or GA - each has honest indications. Not everyone needs sedation; some patients genuinely do.

  • The socket is the next problem

    For future implants, ridge preservation is done at the same visit. Skipping it costs bone that is expensive to rebuild later.

When it helps

When tooth extraction is the right step.

The situations we see most, plus the one red flag that means treating something else first.

  • Unrestorable caries

    Decay too extensive to restore - even with a crown. The commonest indication for extraction.

  • Advanced periodontal disease

    Loose teeth, bone loss and abscesses - extraction is often the only reliable option, followed by prosthetic replacement.

  • Cracked or fractured tooth

    A vertical root fracture below the gumline - usually not restorable. Diagnosis often needs CBCT and specialist assessment.

  • Retained roots

    Broken-down teeth with only root fragments remaining - surgical extraction and socket preservation.

  • Orthodontic extraction

    Removal of pre-molars or other teeth to create space for orthodontic treatment - planned in coordination with the orthodontist.

  • Pre-radiotherapy dental clearance

    Teeth with poor prognosis removed before head-and-neck radiotherapy to avoid osteoradionecrosis later.

  • Pre-bisphosphonate dental clearance

    Compromised teeth extracted before starting IV bisphosphonates or denosumab, to reduce MRONJ risk.

  • Red flag: facial swelling with fever

    A spreading dental infection with facial swelling, difficulty swallowing or breathing needs same-day emergency care - not a routine extraction booking.

Extraction options

The technique matches the tooth - and the bone around it.

What each option involves - anaesthesia, technique, and whether socket preservation or grafting is planned.

  • Simple extraction under local anaesthetic

    The workhorse for straightforward mobile teeth. Elevators loosen the tooth, forceps remove it. Ten to twenty minutes per tooth.

  • Surgical extraction under local anaesthetic

    For broken-down teeth, retained roots, or teeth with divergent roots. A small gum flap, some bone removal, sectioning where needed, dissolving sutures.

  • Extraction under IV sedation

    For anxious patients, complex multiple extractions or long appointments. Awake but relaxed and with limited memory of the procedure.

  • Extraction under nitrous oxide (inhalation sedation)

    A milder anxiolytic - useful for moderate anxiety. Recovery is quick and driving is permitted after 30 minutes.

  • Extraction under GA

    For full dental clearance, medically complex patients, severe anxiety, or paediatric cases. Requires a hospital admission and an anaesthetist.

  • Multiple extractions in one visit

    Efficient and cost-effective for patients needing 4–8 teeth removed - often planned as sedated or GA cases.

  • Extraction with immediate ridge preservation

    A bone graft placed into the socket at the same visit to preserve alveolar bone for a future implant. Adds 10–15 minutes.

  • Extraction with immediate implant placement

    For selected front teeth with intact bony walls - the implant is placed at the same visit as extraction. Careful planning required.

Safety and recovery

What to expect afterwards - honestly.

A well-established treatment. The things worth planning are the approach, the recovery, and knowing the honest risks.

  • Local anaesthetic is the standard

    Local alone is sufficient for most extractions. Sedation and GA are added for anxiety, complexity or medical need, not routinely.

  • Bleeding, bruising and swelling

    Some bleeding and bruising are expected in the first 24–48 hours. Persistent bleeding after gauze pressure needs same-day contact. Anticoagulated patients have a specific plan agreed in advance.

  • Dry socket (alveolar osteitis)

    Painful loss of the blood clot from the socket 3–5 days after extraction. Occurs in 2–5 percent - higher for smokers and lower-jaw teeth. Treated with irrigation and a dressing; heals fully.

  • Infection

    Post-extraction infection is uncommon with proper technique - under 3 percent. Salt-water rinses from day 2, avoiding smoking and no drinking through a straw all reduce risk.

  • Nerve injury

    Numbness of the lip, chin or tongue after lower molar extraction - usually temporary but can be permanent in around 0.5–1 percent of cases. CBCT and careful planning minimise the risk.

  • Adjacent tooth or restoration damage

    Rare but real - a fractured filling on the neighbouring tooth. Fragile restorations are noted before the procedure.

  • Sinus communication (upper molars)

    The roots of upper molars sit close to the maxillary sinus. A small opening can occur - usually closes spontaneously or with a simple flap.

  • Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ)

    A specific risk for patients on bisphosphonates or denosumab. Prevention involves timing, atraumatic technique and post-op review - with an antibiotic policy the specialist agrees.

  • Red flags after extraction

    Persistent bleeding, spreading swelling, fever, difficulty swallowing or breathing, or worsening pain after day 3 need same-day team contact - not a next-week visit.

Reading your notes

Your extraction note in four parts. Read the last one first.

Whichever teeth were removed, and whichever technique was used, the note the surgeon sends you keeps to the same shape.

A UK consultant oral surgeon reviewing an OPG panoramic

A quiet reminder

Clinical language is precise and can read coldly - we translate it for you.

If you would like us to talk you through the notes before your review, just ask.

  1. 01 Header

    Teeth removed and technique

    Which teeth (by FDI or Palmer notation), and whether simple or surgical technique was used, with sedation or GA if any.

  2. 02 Technique

    Flap, bone removal and sutures

    Whether a flap was raised, how much bone was removed, whether the tooth was sectioned, and the closure - dissolving or non-dissolving sutures.

  3. 03 Findings

    Socket condition and adjacent structures

    The state of the socket after extraction, proximity to the inferior alveolar or lingual nerve, and any sinus communication.

  4. 04 Impression

    Aftercare, ridge preservation and next steps

    Read this first: the aftercare plan, whether ridge preservation was placed, and the review and implant timeline.

Recognised by major UK insurers where medically indicated

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Tooth extraction is covered by many dental plans but rarely by standard health insurance - with the exception of extractions under GA in a hospital setting for medically complex patients. Cash pay is the norm.

Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about tooth extraction.

Quick answers on simple versus surgical, sedation, pain, dry socket and cost.

  • Simple or surgical - which will I need?

    A simple extraction removes a fully visible, intact tooth with elevators and forceps. A surgical extraction is needed for broken-down teeth, retained roots, teeth with curved or fused roots, and teeth that will not deliver with simple technique. The OPG or CBCT scan predicts which one you need. About one in three extractions turns out surgical.

  • Do I need sedation?

    No - local anaesthetic alone is sufficient for most extractions. Sedation is a genuine help for severe dental anxiety, complex multiple extractions, long appointments, or patients with medical needs that make cooperation difficult.

  • How painful is it?

    Local anaesthetic makes the extraction itself painless. Pain scores in the first 24 hours are typically 3–5 out of 10 for a simple extraction and 5–7 for a surgical one, controlled with paracetamol and ibuprofen. Pain that worsens after day 3 is not normal - it is usually dry socket and treatable in one visit.

  • What is dry socket?

    Alveolar osteitis - the blood clot dislodges from the socket 3–5 days after extraction, exposing bone. It occurs in 2–5 percent of extractions, more often in smokers, users of the contraceptive pill, and after lower molar extractions. It causes severe pain but heals fully with irrigation and a dressing over 5–7 days.

  • Can I have an implant afterwards?

    Yes, in most cases. Ridge preservation (a small bone graft placed into the socket at the extraction visit) protects bone volume for a future implant. Implants are usually placed 4–6 months after extraction; sometimes at the same visit for suitable front teeth. Planning starts before the extraction.

  • How much does private tooth extraction cost in the UK?

    Roughly £180–£380 for a simple single extraction, £320–£680 for a surgical extraction, £550–£1,650 for multiple, and £3,500–£6,500 for a full dental clearance under GA. IV sedation adds £350–£650. Ridge preservation is £280–£520 per site. All quoted after your imaging.

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