Tooth Extractions

A gentle approach to tooth removal.

Sometimes it is necessary to fully remove—or extract—a tooth from your mouth. Many of us experience tooth extraction as a teenager, when wisdom teeth threaten to overcrowd our mouths. Other than wisdom teeth, extraction is used to remove a tooth that is damaged, decayed, infected, or overcrowded. Teeth may also be removed in preparation for dentures and dental implants. While tooth extraction may sound intimidating, failing to remove an infected or problematic tooth can cause serious pain, infection, and other problems in the future.

Once we’ve discussed your dental concerns with you, and we all agree that tooth extraction is the best course of treatment, we will walk you through what to expect during this procedure.

• We begin by numbing the area around your tooth and providing the sedation you requested.
• Our doctors will use a special tool to loosen and remove the tooth from its socket and clean the area once it’s gone.
• A blood clot will form over the open socket, and we will pack the area with gauze before stitching it closed. 
• Follow our recovery instructions to take pain medication as prescribed.
• Avoid sucking from a straw or spitting for 24 hours to prevent dislodging the blood clot.
• You can resume normal activities the next day but stick to soft foods and elevated pillows when you sleep to encourage proper healing.