Removing a tooth is the last resort — but sometimes it is the right call.
We would always rather save a tooth than remove one. Where a tooth is too badly decayed, fractured below the gumline, or compromised by advanced gum disease, extraction is the treatment that resolves the problem rather than delaying it.
When Extraction Is Necessary
- Decay too extensive to restore with a crown
- A fracture extending below the gumline
- Advanced gum disease where bone support is lost and the tooth is mobile
- Infection that has not resolved and cannot be treated with root canal treatment
- Impacted wisdom teeth causing pain, infection or crowding
- Crowding, where space is needed for orthodontic treatment
- Baby teeth that have not shed and are blocking the adult tooth
Simple and Surgical Extractions
Simple extraction — the tooth is visible and accessible. The area is frozen, the tooth is loosened and lifted out. Usually quick.
Surgical extraction — for teeth broken at the gumline, impacted, or with curved roots. A small incision is made and the tooth may be sectioned into pieces for removal. Takes longer and needs a few stitches. See oral surgery.
Does It Hurt?
During the extraction, no. The area is fully frozen and you will feel firm pressure and movement, which is normal and not painful.
Afterwards there will be soreness for a few days, manageable with over-the-counter pain relief. If anxiety is the issue, sedation is available.
Aftercare
The first 24 hours matter most, because a blood clot needs to form and stay in the socket.
- Bite firmly on the gauze for 30 to 45 minutes
- No rinsing, spitting, smoking or straws for 24 hours — suction dislodges the clot and causes dry socket, which is genuinely painful
- Cold compress on the outside of your face to limit swelling
- Soft food, nothing hot, for the first day
- From day two, gentle warm salt water rinses several times daily
- Brush your other teeth normally, avoiding the socket
Contact us if bleeding will not stop, if pain worsens sharply after day three, or if you develop a fever.
Replacing the Tooth
Unless it was a wisdom tooth, plan for replacement. A gap causes adjacent teeth to drift, the opposing tooth to over-erupt, and the jawbone to resorb.
- Dental implant — best long-term result, preserves bone
- Bridge — faster and less expensive
- Partial denture — the most affordable option
Worth discussing before the extraction rather than after — the plan sometimes changes what we do on the day.
Cost and Coverage
Simple extractions cost considerably less than surgical ones. See fees and payment. Extractions are covered under the Canadian Dental Care Plan and most private plans.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is recovery?
Most people feel largely normal within three or four days. The socket takes a few weeks to close fully.
Can I go to work the next day?
After a simple extraction, usually yes. After a surgical one, give yourself a day.
What is dry socket?
When the blood clot is lost before healing, exposing bone. It is very painful and it is largely preventable by following the 24-hour instructions. If it happens, come in — we can treat it.
Can I have it done the same day?
For emergencies, often yes. See emergency dental care.
Should I try to save the tooth instead?
Where it is realistic, yes — and we will say so. Root canal and a crown costs more upfront than extraction but less than extraction plus replacement.