You can be. Many patients prefer [IV sedation](/iv-sedation) for back teeth or multiple extractions.

Tooth extraction

Q: Do you take out wisdom teeth too?

Yes. See the dedicated [wisdom teeth](/wisdom-teeth) page.

Some teeth can come out in a dental chair. Broken roots, teeth under bone, and anxious patients are often easier with an oral surgeon.

Request consult (561) 833-6880

Overview

An extraction is the planned removal of a tooth that cannot or should not be saved. Common reasons include deep decay, a crack, advanced gum disease, a failed root canal, or a tooth that blocks braces. Wisdom teeth are a special case of the same skill.

Simple vs. surgical

Simple: the tooth is numb, loosened, and lifted without opening the gum
Surgical: the gum is opened, a little bone may be removed, and the tooth may be taken out in pieces

Surgical does not mean something went wrong. It means the anatomy is respected so nearby bone, the sinus, or the nerve is not forced.

Who it is for

Dentists refer when a tooth looks harder than a routine pull. Patients also come in after a crown came off and only root tips remain.

Broken molars or fractured premolars
Baby teeth that will not fall out and block adult teeth
Orthodontic extractions that need surgical access
Patients on blood thinners who need a coordinated plan

If the gum looks unusual, we may recommend a biopsy at the same time. IV sedation is available if sitting through the visit awake is not realistic.

What to expect

The first visit is a consultation. Dr. Curtis will perform a full examination, medical history review, imaging review, and will come up with the treatment plan that best fits the individual patient. If you have any recent imaging, please bring it to this appointment or send it to us ahead of time.

After imaging and consent, the tooth is numbed. Sedation, if planned, starts first. Dr. Curtis will show you the film and point out the sinus or nerve when those structures matter.

The socket is cleaned. If an implant is likely later, we may place a socket graft the same day. You leave with gauze and written instructions. Do not drive yourself home after sedation.

Recovery

Bite on gauze, rest, and keep the clot in place. No straws, no smoking, no vigorous rinsing the first day. Over-the-counter pain medicine is enough for many simple extractions.

Dry socket is more common in lower molars and in people who smoke. It usually shows up after day two or three as a deep ache. See dry socket prevention. Call us for bleeding that will not slow, fever, or pain that gets worse after day three.

If the space will be restored, talk about the next step soon. Bone changes quickly.

Download post-operative instructions (PDF) If a socket graft was placed, use post-operative instructions for extraction with bone graft (PDF).

What patients have said

Two comments from the practice record, shown with first name and last initial.

“Let's face it, no one wants to undergo oral surgery, but if you find yourself in that situation, these are the people you want by your side.”

— Marcel M.

“By far the most friendly attentive medical facility I have ever experienced.”

— Rick F.

Questions patients ask

Why did my dentist send me to an oral surgeon?

Usually because the roots, bone, sinus, or medical history make the tooth more surgical than it looks. Read when to see an oral surgeon vs a dentist.

What is the difference between a simple and a surgical extraction?

A simple extraction loosens an erupted tooth and lifts it. A surgical extraction opens the gum and may section the tooth when it is broken, covered, or rooted in a way that would otherwise fracture.

Can the implant go in the same day?

Sometimes, if infection is controlled and bone can hold the implant. Other times the socket should heal or be grafted first.

Will I be awake?

You can be. Many patients prefer IV sedation for back teeth or multiple extractions.

Do you take out wisdom teeth too?

Yes. See the dedicated wisdom teeth page.