Only when truly needed
Tooth extractions — done gently.
When a tooth can’t be saved, the extraction itself should be comfortable, and the plan for what comes next should be clear before the appointment.
Dr. Agrawal’s default position is to save the tooth. A filling, a crown, a root canal — almost always preferable to losing a tooth. But there are situations where extraction is the right call: a tooth fractured below the gum line, a tooth with severe periodontal bone loss, a baby tooth blocking a permanent one, an impacted wisdom tooth causing problems, or a tooth with damage too extensive to repair predictably. When that’s the situation, the goal becomes a clean, gentle extraction with the best possible plan for what comes next.
What the appointment is like
The tooth and surrounding gum are fully numbed before anything begins. You feel pressure, sometimes a slight rocking motion, but no sharp pain. Most routine extractions take ten to thirty minutes. More complex cases — typically lower molars or impacted wisdom teeth — may take longer. We move at a pace that’s comfortable for you, with breaks as needed.
If you’re anxious, sedation options are available. Nitrous oxide for mild relaxation, oral sedation for deeper calm. We’ll discuss what makes sense for your medical history and comfort level.
After the extraction
You’ll bite gently on gauze for thirty to forty-five minutes to control bleeding. We’ll send you home with clear written instructions, but the basics are: rest for the rest of the day, no straws or vigorous rinsing for the first 24 hours (which can dislodge the clot), soft cool foods for a day or two, and over-the-counter pain reliever as needed. Most patients are comfortable within a couple of days and fully healed within a week or two.
Replacing the tooth
Before the extraction, we’ll walk through your replacement options: dental implant, fixed bridge, partial denture, or — in some cases — leaving the space alone (back molars in particular). Each option has trade-offs in time, cost, and how natural it feels. Knowing the plan ahead of time matters, because for some replacements (especially implants) we want to preserve the bone in the extraction socket at the time of the procedure. We’ll discuss all of this with you at the consultation, not on the day.
Need a tooth evaluated?
An exam is the starting point. We’ll talk through whether the tooth can be saved, and what your options look like either way.