Removing a tooth doesn't have to be stressful when you work with the right dental team.

Tooth Extraction

The goal of dentistry is to promote good oral health and comfort so that you can lead a healthier life and eat the foods you love. We recommend dental extractions only as a last resort to protect your health, eliminate symptoms, or reduce pain – and it is never a recommendation that we make lightly.

Conditions That May Require a Tooth Extraction

If you have injuries involving your head and neck, it is essential to seek immediate medical treatment. We can address your dental concerns once any life-threatening injuries have been ruled out.

Common conditions requiring dental extraction:

Overcrowding
Wisdom teeth
Non-restorable fractures
Advanced periodontal disease
Unsuccessful root canal therapy
A tooth broken at the gumline
Trauma due to an accident

In many cases, we can plan for tooth replacement treatment before beginning your extraction so that we have a plan in place to restore your smile. In cases of overcrowding or wisdom tooth extractions, we will not need to replace missing teeth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I have my wisdom teeth extracted?

Wisdom teeth, those final molars that arrive in your late teens or early 20’s, can cause a variety of problems in your mouth. Even if you never noticed your wisdom teeth erupt, it’s a good idea to visit an oral surgery specialist for a wisdom teeth evaluation.

Wisdom teeth often come in crooked or sideways because there’s simply not enough room in our jaws for four more molars. When this happens, your other teeth may shift, causing you to need orthodontic treatment later on. Crooked wisdom teeth can also damage nearby teeth by causing excessive wear and trapping bacteria.

Even if they don’t erupt, wisdom teeth may cause problems. When there’s not enough room for the molars to come in, they may remain under the gums. These impacted wisdom teeth can cause pain, infection, or misalignment of other teeth. Partially erupted wisdom teeth can also cause an infection.

Signs that you may have problematic wisdom teeth include tooth pain, sensitive or bleeding gums, headache or jaw ache, redness, or infection.

Having your wisdom teeth extracted can help you avoid these complications entirely. Wisdom teeth extraction is a common procedure that oral surgery specialists perform routinely to protect your oral health for the long term.

Personalized Dental Treatment Options

Our dentist will explain all your options and help you make a confident decision regarding your oral health.

We understand that many of our patients have concerns about dental extractions. Will it hurt? What will happen to my oral health? How will it affect the appearance of my smile?

We'll take the time to ensure we address all these concerns and answer your questions.

Your Dental Extraction Procedure

We prioritize patient comfort. Our dentist always uses appropriate levels of anesthetic and waits for it to take effect before beginning. Our team communicates well and is here to answer your questions. Together, we will design a solution that addresses each of your concerns.

We strive to provide efficient, effective, and successful dental extractions so that you can get on the road to recovery quickly.

Surgical extractions involve teeth that have not fully erupted from the gums. This often occurs when there is not enough space for the tooth or it grows at an angle. This condition, known as impaction, often causes pain and jaw discomfort. Removing your tooth can dramatically improve your comfort and protect your remaining teeth.

Simple extractions involve teeth that have erupted fully from the gums. In the case of simple extractions, we can see the crown of the tooth before we begin. They usually do not require stitches during the healing process.

Properly caring for your surgical site is critical:

Gently clean the area.
Avoid smoking cigarettes or drinking through a straw.
Avoid chewing on the area during the healing process.
Follow aftercare instructions provided by your dentist.

We look forward to welcoming you to our dental practice.

Our Team

Meet More of Our Team

Dr. Laura Schall

Dr. Laura Schall earned her Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences with a concentration in Biomedical Sciences from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, followed by her Doctorate of Dental Medicine from Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine.

Dr. Schall’s journey into dentistry began in the most unexpected of places—a preschool field trip to a local dental office, where she fell in love with the simple joy of riding up and down in the chair. As she grew older, that spark of curiosity evolved into something deeper. Her natural love of working ...

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