What Are Tooth Extractions?
A tooth extraction is the careful, controlled removal of a tooth that can no longer be saved or that is causing harm to your overall oral health. As periodontists, we perform extractions with a focus on preserving the surrounding bone and gum tissue, protecting your future options for implants, bridges, or other restorative care.
We recommend extraction when a tooth is severely damaged by decay, fractured below the gum line, loose from advanced gum disease, blocking proper bite alignment, or causing chronic infection that threatens nearby teeth and bone. Sometimes saving a tooth costs more long term health than removing and replacing it cleanly.
Patients typically come to us for extractions when their general dentist recommends a specialist for a complex case, when they want immediate implant planning, or when they want a holistic approach that protects bone and supports overall wellness from the start.
Benefits, Why MD Periodontics
- Specialist-level precision, we remove teeth with techniques designed to preserve bone, gum tissue, and your future treatment options
- Same day bone preservation, we routinely place socket preservation grafts at the time of extraction to prevent the rapid bone loss that follows tooth loss
- Same-day implant planning, in many cases, we can place an implant immediately after extraction, saving months of treatment time
- Comfort-focused care, advanced anesthesia options, and gentle techniques make the experience easier than most patients expect
- Whole body perspective, chronic dental infection contributes to systemic inflammation, and removing a hopeless tooth can support broader immune and overall health
- Beverly Hills specialist expertise, Dr. Moshrefi performs complex extractions with decades of advanced surgical training, and Dr. Daneshmand brings USC-trained precision and a holistic approach to every plan we design together
Who Is a Candidate?
Most patients with a damaged, infected, or non-restorable tooth are candidates for extraction. The right approach depends on the condition of the tooth, the surrounding bone and gum, and your overall health, all of which we evaluate carefully.
You may be an ideal candidate if you:
- Have a tooth that is fractured, decayed beyond repair, or severely loose
- Have a tooth with chronic infection that has not responded to other treatment
- Have advanced gum disease that has destroyed the supporting bone
- Have an impacted or partially erupted tooth causing problems
- Need teeth removed in preparation for implants or full arch reconstruction
- Want a specialist for a complex or surgical extraction
- Have a failing implant that needs to be removed and replaced
Patients with uncontrolled diabetes, bleeding disorders, certain heart conditions, immune suppression, or those taking specific bone-affected medications may need additional medical coordination before extraction.
The Process
- Consultation and 3D Imaging. We begin with a comprehensive exam, full medical history review, and a 3D cone beam CT scan when needed. This shows us the tooth, its roots, the surrounding bone, and any nearby anatomy we need to protect.
- Personalized Treatment Plan. Together, we map out your case, including whether socket preservation grafting or immediate implant placement makes sense for you. We review timeline, comfort options, and how extraction fits into your larger treatment goals.
- Gentle Extraction. Using precise, minimally traumatic techniques, we remove the tooth while protecting the surrounding bone and gum tissue. Most extractions are completed comfortably under local anesthesia, with sedation available for complex cases or for patients who prefer extra comfort.
- Socket Preservation and Healing. In most cases, we place a bone graft into the extraction site to preserve the jawbone for future restoration. The site heals over several weeks, with bone regeneration continuing for 3 to 6 months.
- Next Phase of Treatment. Once healing is complete, you are ready for the next step, typically implant placement, a bridge, or another restorative solution designed to replace the tooth fully.
Recovery and What to Expect
Most patients return to normal activities within 24 to 48 hours. Mild swelling, bruising, and tenderness are common for the first few days and respond well to ice, rest, and over-the-counter pain relievers. Surgical or complex extractions may involve a slightly longer initial recovery.
Aftercare basics:
- Bite gently on gauze for the first hour to control bleeding
- Stick to soft, cool foods for the first 24 to 48 hours, then soft foods for the first week
- Avoid the extraction site when brushing for several days, then resume gentle cleaning
- Rinse with warm salt water starting 24 hours after the procedure
- Do not use straws, spit forcefully, or smoke for at least 72 hours, all of which can dislodge the protective clot
- Skip strenuous exercise for 3 to 5 days
- Keep your head elevated for the first night to reduce swelling
- Keep all follow-up appointments so we can monitor healing
Call our office if you experience heavy bleeding that does not slow within an hour, severe pain that worsens after day three, fever over 101°F, persistent numbness, signs of dry socket, drainage from the site, or swelling that worsens instead of improving.
FAQ
No. Extractions are performed under local anesthesia, and most patients report far less discomfort than they expected. We offer sedation options for surgical extractions, multiple extractions, or for patients who prefer extra comfort.
No. Extractions are performed under local anesthesia, and most patients report far less discomfort than they expected. We offer sedation options for surgical extractions, multiple extractions, or for patients who prefer extra comfort.
Most patients feel significantly better within 3 to 5 days and fully recover within 1 to 2 weeks. Surgical extractions and multiple extractions may take slightly longer. The underlying bone continues to remodel for several months.
Most dental insurance plans cover extractions, with higher coverage for medically necessary cases. Our team verifies your benefits and clearly explains your out-of-pocket costs before treatment begins.
Periodontists are the specialists trained in the bone and gum tissue that surround teeth, which makes us ideal for complex extractions, surgical cases, extractions where bone preservation matters, and any case where implants are being planned. Many general dentists refer their most complex extractions to us.
In many cases, yes. When the surrounding bone is healthy and infection is limited, we can place an implant immediately after extracting the tooth, saving months of treatment time. Your 3D scan helps us determine whether you are a candidate for same-day placement.
Socket preservation is the placement of a bone graft into the extraction site at the time of the procedure. The jawbone shrinks rapidly in the months after tooth loss, sometimes losing up to 25 percent of its width in the first year. Socket preservation prevents most of that loss and keeps your future options open.
Dry socket is a painful complication where the protective blood clot is dislodged from the extraction site, exposing the bone. It is uncommon, easily treated when caught early, and largely preventable by following aftercare instructions carefully.
Not always. Periodontists are fully trained to remove wisdom teeth, particularly when bone preservation and gum health are priorities. We discuss whether we are the right fit for your specific case during your consultation.
Yes, often positively. A chronically infected or failing tooth can contribute to systemic inflammation, immune stress, and ongoing pain. Removing a hopeless tooth and replacing it properly can reduce inflammation and support broader whole body wellness.
The surrounding teeth begin to drift, the opposing tooth can over erupt, and the jawbone in that area shrinks significantly. Over time, this affects your bite, your facial shape, and your ability to chew normally. Replacing the tooth, especially with an implant, prevents most of these changes.
Yes. We offer biologically minded extraction protocols that focus on thorough socket cleaning, preservation of bone and tissue, use of biocompatible grafting materials, and support for your body’s natural healing. We design these plans around your values and your whole body wellness goals.
