Extractions Quick Facts
Extraction is the removal of a damaged or decayed tooth when saving it isn’t possible. The process typically involves numbing the area with local anesthesia, ensuring minimal pain and discomfort while the infected tooth is pulled out of your gum socket. Your dentist might prescribe you antibiotics and pain relievers afterwards to support healing.
Cost
Varies based on number needed
Insurance
Often covered by insurance
Time
Requires multiple visits
What Our Patients Are Saying
Graeme Henderson
"During my visit, Dr. Holt took the time to thoroughly explain each procedure and address any concerns I had, ensuring that I felt comfortable and informed every step of the way."
How To Tell If You Need Extractions
Persistent Severe Pain: Ongoing, severe tooth pain that doesn’t respond to antibiotics may indicate decay reaching the inner pulp, causing an infection known as pulpitis. In such cases, removing the damaged tooth can relieve pain and prevent potential harm to surrounding teeth.
​
Pressure Around Teeth: Impacted wisdom teeth often push against neighboring teeth due to limited space in the jaw, causing pressure and crowding. Extracting these teeth can alleviate the discomfort and prevent misalignment of nearby teeth.
Bleeding Gums: Persistent gum bleeding may signal advanced periodontal disease. When gum disease progresses, it can weaken teeth, making them loose and painful. Removing these teeth helps stop infection spread and preserves oral health.
Tooth Fracture Due to Injury: A fractured tooth that reaches the pulp can expose nerves to bacteria, risking infection. If a fracture is too severe to repair with crowns or root canals, extraction becomes the best option.
The Extraction Procedure
01
Initial Assessment
We will begin by thoroughly examining your mouth to find the root cause of your presenting complaints - pain, pressure, or bleeding gums. If necessary, X-rays will be taken to confirm if an extraction is the best option. Dr. Holt will also review your medical history and any medications you're currently taking.
02
Administering Anesthesia
To ensure you feel no pain during the procedure, local anesthesia will be applied to numb the area around the affected tooth. In more complex cases, like surgical extractions, Dr. Holt may offer sedation options, such as intravenous (IV) sedation or even general anesthesia, depending on the procedure's complexity.
03
Loosening the Tooth
Once the anesthesia has fully taken effect, Dr. Holt will use a dental elevator to gently rock the tooth, loosening it from the socket. During this step, you may feel some pressure on your jaw, but you shouldn't experience any pain.
04
Pulling the Tooth
After the tooth is sufficiently loosened, it will be carefully lifted and twisted out of its socket using dental forceps. In more complicated cases - such as when the tooth is impacted or broken - Dr. Holt may need to make small incisions or break the tooth into smaller pieces to facilitate its removal.
05
Disinfecting & Closing the Socket
​Once the tooth is removed, we will clean the extraction site to clear away any remaining debris or tissue. Dr. Holt will place a piece of gauze over the site and ask you to bite down on it for 30-60 minutes. This will help control bleeding and facilitate clot formation.
Recovery After Extractions
After your extraction, avoid spitting or rinsing your mouth too vigorously for the first 24 hours to keep the blood clot in place. Take any prescribed pain medication as directed, and apply a cold compress to your cheek for 10-20 minutes at a time to reduce swelling.
Take it easy for the first 24 hours - no heavy exercise. Keep your head elevated when resting to help reduce swelling. Stick to soft foods and avoid anything hard, crunchy, or spicy. Drink plenty of fluids, but skip the straw.
You can brush your teeth, just be gentle around the extraction site for the first day. After 24 hours, rinse with warm salt water to keep the area clean. And remember, avoid smoking or drinking alcohol for at least 24 hours to help prevent dry sockets.
Extractions FAQs
​Is tooth extraction good or bad?
Tooth extraction can actually be a smart decision for your overall dental health. If you have a severe cavity, gum disease, or issues like impacted wisdom teeth, removing the problem tooth can prevent more serious pain and damage. It’s often better to extract one problematic tooth now than risk more complex procedures later on, helping to preserve the health of your other teeth in the process.
How painful is it after a tooth extraction?
Tooth extractions are generally not painful due to the anesthesia used during the procedure. Before the extraction, your dentist will numb the area with a local anesthetic, which may cause a brief pinch. Once the anesthesia takes effect, you won’t feel any pain during the extraction itself. Afterwards, any discomfort can usually be managed with prescribed or over-the-counter pain medication.
Which tooth is most painful to extract?
Wisdom teeth are generally the most challenging and painful to extract, especially when impacted or located in the upper jaw. The angle at which they emerge can vary - some may come in angled towards the front or back, while others may be trapped horizontally beneath the gums. In these cases, an incision in the gum or bone may be necessary to access and remove the tooth.
​
Additionally, infections can increase discomfort, particularly if the tooth is infected before extraction. However, with proper anesthesia and timely care, the pain can be effectively managed.
Which teeth cannot be pulled?
Ankylosed teeth, where the bone fuses to the tooth, are the hardest to extract. This condition prevents the tooth from moving within the socket, making removal more complicated. In these cases, the tooth may need to be divided into multiple pieces for extraction.
Other than these, impacted wisdom teeth and lower molars can be challenging to remove in one piece and often require surgical intervention.
Are dead teeth easier to extract?
Dead teeth, which have lost their blood supply and nerve function, are typically less painful to remove since they are not sensitive. While they may be more brittle due to decay, this can actually make the extraction easier.
​
However, caution is needed as too much force can cause the tooth to break into pieces, complicating the procedure.
What happens if a tooth breaks during extraction?
If a tooth breaks during extraction, pieces of the tooth's root may remain in the socket. To remove these fragments, your dentist may need to perform a surgical procedure, which involves making small cuts in the gum to access and remove the remaining root sections.
​
After the extraction, follow-up appointments will be necessary to ensure the socket is healing properly and all debris has been cleared.