Oral Surgery

Our oral surgery services include tooth extractions and wisdom teeth removal.

When oral surgery is recommended

• A tooth is too decayed or broken to repair with a filling, crown or root canal
• Advanced gum disease has loosened a tooth
• Wisdom teeth are impacted, crowding other teeth or repeatedly infected
• A baby tooth will not come out on its own and is blocking a permanent tooth
• Teeth need to be removed before braces or dentures

Your comfort comes first

The area is numbed before any extraction. Please share any concerns or preferences for sedation with your doctor ahead of time, so we can plan a visit you feel comfortable with.

Before and after surgery

Before your visit, tell us about your medications, especially blood thinners, and any health conditions. Plan to take it easy for the remainder of the day. Afterward, you will go home with gauze and clear instructions: bite on the gauze, use cold packs, eat soft foods, and avoid straws and smoking while the area heals. Most people are back to their routine within a few days.

Questions to ask before an extraction

• Can this tooth be saved another way, and what would that involve?
• If it comes out, should it be replaced, and when?
• How long will recovery take, and what can I eat?
• What should I watch for afterward, and when should I call?

We are happy to answer these at your visit, so you know exactly what to expect.

Planning what comes next

After a tooth is removed, neighboring teeth can shift. When a tooth other than a wisdom tooth is extracted, we will talk with you about replacing it with an implant, bridge or denture.

Some extractions are part of dental implant treatment, where bone grafting at the same visit prepares the site for an implant later.

Extractions are often partly covered by dental insurance; see our financial information page. Have a tooth that is causing pain? Request an appointment, or see emergency dental care if it cannot wait.