Sometimes a tooth is too damaged or decayed to save, and taking it out is the kindest thing for the rest of your mouth. A straightforward extraction is a gentle, routine procedure. We numb the tooth fully first, so you feel pressure rather than pain, and we help you plan how to fill the gap afterwards.
Tell us when suits and we will call you back to arrange it. No obligation.
Treatment Overview
What Is a Tooth Extraction?
A tooth extraction is simply the removal of a tooth. We only ever suggest it when a tooth genuinely cannot be saved, because keeping your own teeth is almost always better. Before we recommend taking a tooth out, we will look at whether it can be repaired instead, with a filling, a crown or root canal treatment.
A straightforward, or simple, extraction is for a tooth that has come through and can be reached and gripped normally. We numb the area fully first, using The Wand for a gentle injection, then ease the tooth out. Most people are surprised at how quick and comfortable it is, and feel pressure rather than any pain.
Some teeth are more awkward. A tooth that is buried under the gum, badly broken at the gumline, or impacted, such as some wisdom teeth, is removed as a surgical extraction. We handle those under our Oral Surgery service, where there is more time and the right approach for a trickier tooth.
Whatever the reason for losing a tooth, we will talk you through your options for filling the gap, so you are not left wondering what happens next.
A tooth may need to come out if it is:
Too decayed or broken to repair
Loose because of advanced gum disease
Cracked below the gum, where it cannot be saved
Causing pain or infection that repair will not fix
Crowding other teeth, or stuck and unable to come through
What you get here:
Longer appointments, so nothing is rushed
The Wand, for almost pain-free injections
A calm, unhurried approach for nervous patients
A clear plan for filling the gap afterwards, if you want one
An itemised price before any work starts
Book your appointment
A new patient examination is £92.
We assess the tooth and price the extraction before anything starts.
We examine the tooth and take X-rays to see the root and the bone around it. Wherever we can, we look at whether the tooth could be repaired instead of removed.
02
We numb the area
We numb the tooth and the gum fully, using The Wand for a gentle injection with no big needle and no sting. We do not start until you are completely numb.
03
We remove the tooth
We ease the tooth out gently. You should feel pressure, not pain. If a tooth is buried or badly broken, we may plan it as a surgical extraction under our Oral Surgery service instead.
04
Aftercare and the gap
We give you clear aftercare advice for the days that follow, and talk through your options for filling the gap, such as an implant, a bridge or a denture. If anything worries you afterwards, call us.
Longer appointments, so we can talk through your concerns and give you a break if you need one.
Almost pain-free injections
The Wand numbs you without the big needle or the sting. Most patients are surprised how easy it is.
Digital X-rays
We diagnose faster, more accurately and with far less radiation than older film.
A hand to hold
Bring a partner in, or hold a nurse's hand. If you ever need us, we respond the same day.
About Waterside Dental
Your private dental practicein Hythe.
Waterside Dental is a private practice in Hythe, owned and led by principal dentist Dr Nikos Louskos since 2017. It has recently been refurbished to feel more like home than a clinic, and is run by a small, hand-picked team — so you'll always see a familiar face.
Care here is unhurried and patient-led. Appointments are longer so concerns can be talked through properly, treatment is explained in plain language, and nothing is rushed — with breaks during longer procedures whenever you need them.
We welcome private patients from Hythe and across Southampton — whether you're registering as a new patient or visiting for a single course of treatment while staying with your current dentist.
"I firmly believe that dentistry doesn't have to be unpleasant or scary, and that often it can be life-changing."
DR NIKOS LOUSKOS
Our Principal Dentist
Meet Dr NikosLouskos.
DDS · MSc Endodontics · GDC No. 102626
Principal dentist and practice owner, with a special interest in endodontics.
Dr Nikos Louskos qualified in Athens in 2005 and moved to the UK in 2006. He worked as an associate at Waterside before taking ownership of the practice in 2017.
In 2016 he completed a Master's in Endodontic Practice at Queen Mary University of London. He accepts referrals for complex root canal cases, which he treats under a microscope, and enjoys all aspects of general dentistry.
Nobody wants surprises after a dental visit. You'll get an itemised treatment plan with exact costs before anything begins, plus monthly payment options to spread the cost.
Finance is provided by Tabeo and is interest-bearing from 9.9% APR. Practice-plan discounts apply to selected treatments — full terms are listed on the Fees and Plans pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions patientsask us.
A few of the things patients ask us most often. If your question isn't here, just get in touch — we're happy to talk it through.
No. We numb the tooth and gum fully first, using The Wand for a gentle injection, and we do not start until you are completely numb. You should feel pressure while the tooth comes out, but not pain.
Yes, wherever we can. Keeping your own tooth is almost always better, so before we suggest taking one out we look at whether a filling, a crown or root canal treatment could save it instead. We only recommend an extraction when a tooth genuinely cannot be saved.
A tooth that is impacted, buried under the gum, or badly broken at the gumline is removed as a surgical extraction. We handle those under our Oral Surgery service, which gives us more time and the right approach for a trickier tooth.
We give you clear aftercare advice for the days that follow, so you know what is normal and what to look out for. It is best to take it easy for a little while. If you are worried about anything at all after your appointment, call us rather than wait.
It is usually worth it. A gap can let the nearby teeth drift and can change your bite over time. We will talk you through your options, such as an implant, a bridge or a denture, so you can decide what suits you.
Yes. If you are in pain we will always try to see you and make you comfortable. Call us on 023 8084 3318, and see our emergency dentistry page. An emergency appointment is from £92.
It depends on the tooth and whether it is a simple or a surgical removal, so we give you an itemised price after we have assessed it. You will know the full cost in writing before any treatment starts, and you can spread it with our Practice Plan or finance.
Yes, and a lot of our patients feel the same. Tell us when you book. We use The Wand for almost pain-free injections, we allow longer appointments so nothing is rushed, and you can bring someone in with you or hold a nurse's hand. If you need it, we also offer oral or intravenous sedation.
Whether you'd like to book or just have a question about treatment, send us a message and a member of the team will get back to you — the same day wherever we can.
