Buffalo
Coon Rapids
Elk River
Maple Grove
Monticello
Buffalo
Coon Rapids
Elk River
Maple Grove
Monticello
Keeping your natural tooth is always the first goal. Your surgeon will recommend an extraction only when the tooth can't be restored or when keeping it would put the rest of your mouth at risk.
Common reasons include:
A missing tooth can affect how you chew, how the neighboring teeth line up, and the density of the jaw bone over time. That's why your surgeon will talk through alternatives to extraction and your replacement options.
Your surgeon examines the tooth and reviews X-rays to see the shape of its roots and how it sits in the bone. When a tooth is close to nerves or sinuses, or its roots are hard to see on a standard X-ray, our 3D imaging gives your surgeon a more detailed view before the procedure.
Before the extraction begins, your surgeon uses a local anesthetic to numb the tooth, the gums, and the jawbone around it. You may feel pressure during the procedure, but the anesthetic keeps you from feeling pain.
For a tooth that's fully visible and has straight roots, your surgeon gently rocks the tooth back and forth to widen the socket, then lifts it out in one piece.
Some teeth are firmly anchored in the socket, broken off near the gumline, or have curved roots that won't come out in one piece. In these cases, your surgeon sections the tooth into smaller pieces and removes them one at a time. This is the kind of extraction that oral surgeons are specifically trained to handle.
Local anesthesia is often all a simple extraction needs. If you're anxious, or if your extraction is more involved, you can choose from several other options.
Our surgeons have completed many years of anesthesia training to provide these in the office:
Your surgeon will recommend an option based on your medical history, the extraction, and your comfort level.
When several teeth need to be removed, often to prepare for dentures or implants, your surgeon can do so in a single visit. If immediate dentures are placed the same day, your dentist will usually see you within 24 to 48 hours to adjust them and relieve any sore spots.
A dental implant is a permanent, natural-looking replacement for an extracted tooth, and our surgeons place implants as well as remove teeth. If you're planning an implant, tell your surgeon before the extraction.
If the bone has already thinned, bone grafting can rebuild it before an implant is placed.
Bite down on a gauze pad for 30 to 45 minutes, or longer, until the bleeding stops. The pressure helps a blood clot form in the socket, which is the first step in healing.
Protect the blood clot for the first 72 hours:
Some discomfort and swelling are normal. Use an ice pack and take pain medication as prescribed. Soft foods may feel more comfortable the day after your extraction, and you can resume your regular diet as soon as you're ready.
Most patients feel back to normal within a few days. If bleeding, pain, or swelling continues for two to three days, call your office right away.
The cost of a tooth extraction depends on whether it's a simple or surgical extraction, how many teeth are involved, any imaging needed, and the anesthesia you choose. Ask your office for an estimate before your procedure.
Each office offers tooth extractions and the same weekday hours. See all of our locations for maps and directions.
Request an appointment online or call the office nearest you. Our team will answer your questions and help you choose the location and time that work best.
You shouldn't feel pain during the extraction. Your surgeon numbs the tooth, gums, and jawbone first, so what you'll notice is pressure rather than pain. Some discomfort and swelling afterward is normal, and an ice pack and the medication your surgeon recommends usually keep it manageable.
Most patients feel back to normal within a few days and can return to their usual activities by then. Protect the blood clot for the first 72 hours by avoiding straws, smoking, alcohol, vigorous rinsing, and brushing right next to the site. If bleeding, pain, or swelling continues after two to three days, call your office.
Yes. Many extractions only need local anesthesia, but you can also choose nitrous oxide, IV sedation, or in-office general anesthesia. Your surgeon will go over the options at your consultation based on your medical history, the extraction itself, and how anxious you feel about the procedure.
In many cases, yes. If you're planning an implant, tell your surgeon before the extraction. A bone graft placed in the empty socket at the time of extraction can help preserve the bone an implant needs, and your surgeon will explain whether that makes sense for you.
Call the office nearest you and describe what you're feeling. Our team will help you find the earliest appointment available at any of our five offices in Coon Rapids, Maple Grove, Buffalo, Elk River, and Monticello.