Tooth Extractions in Canning Vale

When decay, disease or damage to a tooth becomes too severe to treat or repair, removing it is often the best way to protect the rest of your mouth from infection spreading further.

At our Canning Vale practice, our dentists assess whether an extraction is the right call, talk you through your options, and when a tooth does need to come out we refer you to Dentist WA, our sister practice, who will carry out the extraction itself.

You get the same team's judgement on the diagnosis, and a trusted, familiar practice for the procedure.

Why does a tooth needs to be extracted

What are wisdom teeth?

Most people's wisdom teeth (the "third molars") come through in their late teens or early twenties — two on top, two on the bottom, right at the back of the mouth. Some people never develop all four; that's completely normal and hereditary.

For some, wisdom teeth erupt without any issue. For others, there isn't enough room, and the tooth comes in at an angle or becomes impacted against a neighbouring tooth — leading to pain, crowding, swelling or damage to otherwise healthy teeth. A partially erupted wisdom tooth can also trap food and debris under a flap of gum, causing infection, or allow a cyst to form that damages surrounding bone and teeth.

To work out whether your wisdom teeth need to come out or can be safely left alone, we take a panoramic OPG X-ray, which shows their position relative to your other teeth, the jawbone and nerve tissue. From there, we'll let you know our recommendation.

How the process works with us

• Book a consultation with our Canning Vale team — for you or your child
• We assess the tooth, take any x-rays needed, and confirm whether extraction is the right path
• If it is, we refer you to Dentist WA, our sister practice, who perform the extraction
• You'll get clear guidance from us on what to expect before you go, and we're always happy to answer questions along the way

If you'd like a second opinion on a tooth someone else has recommended removing, we're glad to offer that consultation too.

Additionally, cysts can form around impacted teeth. Cysts are pockets of fluid that can damage bone, surrounding teeth, and gums. Antibiotics can treat infections, but in many instances, removing wisdom teeth is necessary to permanently treat the problem.

Preparing for and recovering from an extraction

Before the procedure, Dentist WA will confirm any fasting requirements if you're having sedation or general anaesthesia, and you'll need someone to drive you home afterwards.

Some swelling, mild pain and light bleeding in the days after are normal — ice packs help with swelling, and gentle pressure with clean gauze manages bleeding. Stick to soft foods, avoid hot food and drinks for the first 24 hours, and steer clear of smoking, vaping or drinking through a straw, since the suction can raise your risk of dry socket. Most people are back to normal within a week.