General dentistry
Tooth extractions
Sometimes a tooth can’t be saved, or a wisdom tooth keeps causing trouble. We take it out gently, with the area fully numb, and explain what replaces it if anything needs to.
- Time in the chair
- 20–60 minutes
- Visits
- One
- Numbing
- Yes, local
- Typical cost
- $75–$800 per tooth
What it is
We recommend taking a tooth out only when saving it isn’t realistic: a tooth broken below the gum, a tooth loosened by advanced gum disease, or a wisdom tooth that is partly through and keeps getting infected.
A simple extraction is a tooth we can see and lift out whole. A surgical extraction means the tooth is broken or below the gum, so a small opening is made and the tooth may come out in sections.
Before anything is removed we talk about whether the gap needs filling. A missing back tooth lets its neighbours drift. The options are an implant, a bridge or a partial denture, and you don’t have to decide on the day.
Who does this here
Dr. Renata Alcott
Dr. Meera SethiWhat to expect, step by step
X-ray and plan
We look at the roots on an X-ray so there are no surprises, and talk through every option, including leaving it for now.
Numbing
Numbing gel, then local anaesthetic. During an extraction you feel pressure, sometimes a lot of it, but not sharp pain. Pressure is normal. Pain is a signal for us to stop and add numbing.
Loosening the tooth
The tooth is gently rocked to widen the socket and lifted out. Once you are numb, most simple extractions take a few minutes.
Closing up
You bite on gauze to help a clot form. A surgical extraction may get a few stitches that dissolve on their own.
Aftercare
You leave with written instructions, spare gauze and the number to call after hours.
How long it takes
A simple extraction takes 20 to 30 minutes including numbing. A surgical one can take up to an hour.
Take it easy for the rest of the day. Swelling peaks around day two or three, then fades. For the first three days avoid straws, smoking and spitting hard, which can dislodge the clot and cause a painful “dry socket”. Most people are back to normal food within a week.
What it costs
$75–$800
Typical U.S. range, per tooth, before insurance
Most patients pay somewhere in this range. Your exact cost depends on whether it is a simple extraction (the low end) or a surgical one (the high end). Deeply impacted wisdom teeth are referred to an oral surgeon, who quotes separately.
Most PPO plans cover simple extractions at around 80% and surgical ones at around 50% after the deductible.
This is a guide, not our fee and not a quote. After your exam you get a written estimate, and we check your insurance, before anything starts. Call (602) 555-0148 for a quote. Where these ranges come from.
Questions patients ask
Will I be asleep?
No. We use local numbing, with nitrous oxide (laughing gas) if you are anxious. If you would rather be sedated, especially for wisdom teeth, we refer you to an oral surgeon who offers it.
When can I eat?
Once the numbness wears off. Soft, lukewarm food for the first day or two, chewing on the other side.
How to book
Use our request form and we’ll call you back within one business day to pick a time, or call us now on (602) 555-0148. Tell us it’s for extractions and we’ll book the right length of visit.