Bell Hill Dental
Oral Surgery
Extractions and Other Surgical Procedures

The removal of teeth is a practice we take seriously and treat with care to ensure your comfort and well-being.

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Couple smiling at dentist in Dunedin, Otago
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Dental Surgery & Wisdom Tooth Removal in Dunedin

Patient in chair talking to oral surgeon in Dunedin | dental surgeryWe know that it can be daunting when a tooth may need extraction. The good news is that each dentist at Bell Hill Dental is proficient at removing teeth when the need arises. In addition, we pride ourselves on treating you with great care and gentle hands during oral surgery in Dunedin.

Tooth Extractions in Dunedin

Dr Elaine Neill and her team will only perform an extraction after a full discussion when other solutions cannot succeed. We offer treatments that may be preferred; including fillings, root canal therapy coupled with dental crowns, or other restorations that can preserve the tooth.

However, those procedures require enough tooth material to support either the filling or the crown, which may not be possible depending on the level and type of damage. Only then will your dentist prepare you for oral surgery.

Following oral surgery, adhering to these basic guidelines can improve the healing process:

  • Avoid smoking or drinking through a straw – suction may damage the clot
  • Rinse your mouth gently with salty water
  • Reduce inflammation with a cold, wet or iced cloth
  • Address pain with medication

Frequently Asked Questions

If your wisdom teeth are causing discomfort, it's a good idea to have an examination with your dentist to see if wisdom tooth removal in Dunedin is a good idea. This is because wisdom teeth can become impacted, which causes an infection that can be painful.

Your Dunedin dentist might recommend wisdom tooth extraction because of crowding or the inability to properly clean your wisdom teeth, which can result in tooth decay or gum disease.

woman holding ice pack to jawWisdom Tooth Recovery & Aftercare

After wisdom teeth removal in Dunedin, it is normal to feel some discomfort for the first couple of days; however, that should dissipate as your mouth heals. Be sure to get in touch with your dentist immediately if you continue to feel pain or discomfort or experience bleeding that won't stop.

Sticking to soft foods like scrambled eggs, yoghurt, or soup the first couple of days after surgery will help healing. You can also use a cold compress to reduce any swelling after surgery. Avoiding smoking cigarettes or drinking through a straw during healing will keep your blood clot intact, which guards against developing a painful condition known as a dry socket.

Contact Us About Wisdom Tooth Removal in Dunedin

If you have questions about wisdom tooth pain relief and recovery, we invite you to contact Bell Hill Dental in Dunedin, Otago. 

Our dental clinic is located at 109 Princes St in Dunedin, 9016. We are nearby the Octagon and the Dunedin Public Art Gallery. 

At Bell Hill Dental in Dunedin, we offer gentle wisdom tooth removal so our patients can enjoy improved oral health and comfort. Our dental team is highly experienced and skilled in removing wisdom teeth, so you can rest assured knowing you are in capable, safe and caring hands. 

man smiling in dental chairWhen Is Wisdom Tooth Removal Necessary? 

Not all wisdom teeth require removal, but if they pose a threat to a patient’s oral health and wellness, we can safely remove them. A wisdom tooth removal may be necessary to make space for incoming or existing teeth, repair damage below the gumline (e.g., deep decay, fractures), or remove impacted wisdom teeth that haven’t yet erupted. 

Your Comfort and Safety Are Priority

Wisdom tooth removal is considered oral surgery. However, we approach each patient with specialised care to ensure the best possible outcomes and enhanced patient comfort. Our dentists in Dunedin, Otago are experts in safe, painless and efficient tooth removals, so many patients don’t experience discomfort during the procedure. 

We offer an effective local anesthetic to reduce pain and discomfort during the procedure. However, we can refer patients to a trusted specialist oral surgeon and anesthetist if they require general anesthesia. 

Contact Bell Hill Dental in Dunedin Today

If you need oral surgery in Dunedin, we invite you to contact Bell Hill Dental for more information or to arrange an appointment. 

Dentistry has come a long way in the management of pain. We are very proud of our gentle techniques and want you to be comfortable in our chair.

One thing we think is essential for our patients to understand is that dental pain is often the result of inflamed and infected tissues. In these cases, dental procedures are what address and treat that pain with efforts to eliminate it. We never want you to associate a trip to the dentist with pain. We encourage you to maintain regular cleans and check-ups to break that association.

man smiling in dental chair in dunedinOur Approach and Expertise Will Resolve your Pain

Everyone has a different pain threshold and tolerance. We will consult with you before any procedure to know what to expect, and we understand your relationship to tooth and mouth discomfort. Where appropriate, we provide topical cream anaesthetic, stress balls, and the latest injection techniques.

We Respect Your Needs in Dunedin

To the Bell Hill Dental team, we want our patients to know that they are the boss; we will take treatment as slow or fast as they require.  When we have patients say, 'I didn’t even feel it' and 'that was the best injection I’ve ever had,' we know we have hit our target. We welcome your call with any questions.

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Do Wisdom Teeth Always Require Removal?

Diagram of wisdom tooth extraction in DunedinWisdom teeth do NOT need to be removed just because they are there. Often, wisdom teeth can be left alone and monitored with radiographs (x-rays) without needing to be removed. However, when the need arises, all our dentists can talk you through the options for the safe removal of troublesome wisdom teeth.

Depending on which direction the wisdom teeth are growing, how embedded they are in your jaw bone, whether an infection is present, your general health status and many other factors, we can advise whether they are suitable for in-chair removal at Bell Hill Dental using a local anaesthetic, or whether referral for sedation or a general anesthetic is recommended.

With one of our experienced dentists, the advantages of in-chair removal are significant savings of cost and time when compared with a general anaesthetic. General anaesthetic does increase the costs associated due to the need for a referral to a specialist oral surgeon, hospital setting and anaesthetist. However, as you are sedated or asleep during the procedure, many choose this option also. We will help you decide what is best for you.

Book a Dental Extraction in Dunedin, Otago

We welcome you to contact us for an oral surgery assessment. We always welcome new patients to our dental practice in Dunedin, Otago.

Meet Our Clinicians:

Dr Elaine Neil BDS dentist in Dunedin Otago

Dr Elaine Neill BDS
Practice Owner

Elaine graduated from the University of Otago in 1992 and gained the sought after position of Dental Housesurgeon at the Dunedin Public Hospital. Here she gained valuable experience in surgery ...

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Dr Ally Dunning BHSc BDS dentist near me Dunedin

Dr Ally Dunning BHSc, BDS
Dentist

Ally is a dual-qualified registered nurse and dentist, graduating from the University of Otago with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery in 2010.

Since graduating, Ally has worked in both public and ...

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Dr Claudia Huang BDS dentist in Dunedin

Dr Claudia Huang BDS
Dentist

Claudia graduated from the University of Otago in 2006. After graduation, she practised in an Australian public hospital before returning to Dunedin. During her seven years in Dunedin, Claudia worked ...

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Meet More of our Staff

Featured Blog Posts - Oral Surgery

April 24, 2023

6 Tips for Tooth Extraction Aftercare

woman holding ice pack against jaw before tooth extraction

Last Updated: August 7, 2025

A tooth extraction is sometimes necessary if severe damage or decay is a concern. At Bell Hill Dental, our team, including Dr. Neill, provides gentle and professional oral surgery and tooth extractions in Dunedin. Dr. Neill has been a pillar of the community since purchasing Bell Hill Dental in 1995, providing decades of dedicated care. Before your dental procedure, your dentist will provide detailed, evidence-based instructions regarding your aftercare and recovery to maximise healing.

Need an Extraction? Book a Consult with Bell Hill Dental

If you're experiencing ...
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February 14, 2022

When You May Need a Wisdom Tooth Extraction and Pain Relief

wisdom tooth extraction dunedin | woman with toothache

It’s a beautiful, sunny morning, and you’ve just stepped out of bed, ready to take on the day. You open your mouth to yawn, but it feels difficult for some reason. You also notice a rather unpleasant taste and an incredibly unwelcome headache. What is going on? Patients with emerging or impacted wisdom teeth may suffer from various symptoms that cause significant problems in everyday life. But rest assured, at Bell Hill Dental, we regularly assess and offer gentle wisdom tooth extraction before they cause further problems down the line.

When ...

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Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.