When a tooth
needs to come out.
Gently. Quickly.
Most extractions are simple — in and out in under 30 minutes with just local anesthetic. For anxious patients, we offer nitrous oxide (laughing gas) to help you relax. Whatever you're facing, we'll walk you through it honestly, answer every question, and get it done.
A simple extraction,
step by step.
Most extractions are straightforward. Here's what happens for a typical simple extraction — for wisdom teeth or surgical extractions, the process has a few more steps that we'll walk you through at consultation.
Before any extraction, we talk through replacement options. A missing tooth affects the teeth around it — understanding implants, bridges, and partial dentures ahead of time helps you plan.
Local anesthetic is administered to numb the tooth and surrounding area. For anxious patients, we offer nitrous oxide (laughing gas) to help you relax.
Using a tool called an elevator, we gently loosen the tooth from the socket. You'll feel pressure but not pain. This is the longest part, but the area stays fully numb.
Once loose, the tooth comes out easily with forceps. For most simple extractions, this happens in seconds. You'll feel pressure release.
We inspect the socket, remove any loose bone or tissue, and pack it with a gauze to control bleeding. For sockets that will receive a future implant, we may place a bone graft material now to preserve bone.
Gauze pressure for 30–60 minutes. Soft foods for 24 hours. No straws, no smoking, no spitting for 48 hours — all can dislodge the blood clot. We'll review this in writing. You're home in 30-45 minutes from start to finish.
When extraction
is the right call.
Tooth is beyond saving
When decay or infection has destroyed too much of the tooth, a root canal and crown won't hold. Extraction is the honest next step, followed by replacement with an implant or bridge.
Severe gum disease
Advanced periodontal disease can cause teeth to loosen to the point where they can't be saved. Removing them stops the infection from spreading and sets you up for healing.
Impacted wisdom teeth
Third molars often don't have room to come in straight. Impacted wisdom teeth can cause pain, infection, and damage to neighboring teeth. Most patients need them out in their late teens or twenties.
Crowding for orthodontic reasons
Sometimes we extract baby teeth or permanent teeth to make room for orthodontic work. Usually done at the recommendation of your orthodontist.
Failed root canal
Occasionally a root canal doesn't fully resolve the infection, or decay returns under the crown years later. In some cases, extraction and an implant is the best long-term solution.
We won't pull a tooth we could save.
Extraction is always the last option, not the first. If there's a reasonable chance a root canal and crown can save the tooth, we'll tell you. If extraction is genuinely the right call, we'll tell you that too — and walk you through replacement options before we proceed.
Questions
we hear often.
Does it hurt?
How long is recovery?
Should I replace the tooth?
What is dry socket?
Can I eat right after?
How much does it cost?
Tooth giving you trouble?
Let's look at options.
Sometimes it can be saved. Sometimes extraction really is the right call. Either way, we'll tell you honestly and walk you through next steps. Book a consultation.