An extraction removes a tooth that is too decayed, broken or loose to repair with a filling, crown or root canal. Wisdom teeth come out when they are stuck in the jaw, infected, impossible to keep clean, or damaging the tooth in front.
When you might need this
- A tooth is cracked below the gum or too decayed for a filling, crown or root canal.
- The gum behind your last molar is sore and swollen and keeps flaring up.
- An X-ray shows a wisdom tooth stuck sideways or pressing on the tooth in front.
- Gum disease has loosened a tooth past the point of saving.
- A tooth needs to come out to make room for braces or a denture.
What happens
Exam and X-ray
Dr. Malik looks at the tooth and takes an X-ray to see the roots and the bone around them. He tells you whether the tooth can be saved, and what removing it would involve.
Plan the gap
If the tooth will need replacing, we talk about an implant, bridge or denture now, so the estimate covers the whole job and you can plan.
Numbing and nitrous
We numb the area properly and check it has taken before we begin. If you want nitrous oxide, you breathe it through a small nose mask, stay awake and feel calmer.
The extraction
A simple extraction loosens the tooth and lifts it out; a stuck wisdom tooth may need a small opening in the gum, or the tooth divided into pieces. Dr. Malik did a residency in oral surgery and does this work himself, and we stop if you need a break.
Home with instructions
You leave with written aftercare and a prescription if you need one. Bite on the gauze, rest for the day, and eat soft food for a few days while the socket heals.
Cost and insurance
Most extractions take one visit. The cost depends on whether the tooth comes out simply or needs surgery, and the estimate spells out which. Most dental plans cover part of an extraction. We bill your insurance directly. You see the estimate in writing before anything starts. No insurance? We tell you the cost up front.
Questions people ask
Does getting a tooth pulled hurt?
Once the area is fully numb you feel pushing and pressure, not sharp pain, and we check before we start. The area is sore for a few days afterwards; the pain relief we recommend usually keeps it manageable.
What can I eat after a tooth extraction?
Soft, cool food for the first two or three days: yogurt, eggs, mashed potatoes, soup that is not hot, smoothies eaten with a spoon. Skip straws, hot drinks, alcohol and smoking, which can dislodge the clot that protects the socket.
Do all wisdom teeth need to come out?
No. If they come through straight and you can keep them clean, they can stay. Dr. Malik removes them when they are stuck, infected, decayed or damaging the tooth in front.
When should I call after an extraction?
Call 647.479.3151 if bleeding has not slowed after a few hours of steady pressure on gauze, if pain gets worse after day three instead of better, or if you have spreading swelling, fever or a bad taste that will not rinse away. These can be signs of infection or a dry socket.
Related services
Book a visit
A sore or broken tooth does not fix itself. Book a first visit, or call us if the gum behind your last molar is swollen now.