Tooth Extractions — Scottsville Family Dentistry

Most of the time, our first instinct is to save a tooth — with a filling, a crown, or a root canal. Extraction is reserved for situations where the tooth is fractured below the gum, severely decayed, badly infected, or crowding teeth around it.

When extraction is the right call, we focus on what makes the visit easier for you: thorough numbing, a steady unhurried pace, and the option of nitrous oxide or oral sedation. Most patients in our Scottsville office tell us afterward that the actual procedure was far less of an ordeal than they'd built up in their head.

Before you leave, we walk through exactly what to do for the next 24 hours — bleeding, swelling, what to eat, and when to call. And we'll talk about replacement options (implant, bridge, partial) so a missing tooth doesn't become tomorrow's problem.

Why it matters

✓Comfort-focused approach with nitrous and oral sedation available
✓Clear, written aftercare so healing goes smoothly
✓Replacement options discussed before the extraction, not after
✓Most simple and surgical extractions handled in-house

Questions we hear

Will the extraction hurt?+

The area is fully numbed before we begin, so you'll feel pressure but not sharp pain. Most of the discomfort is in the day or two after — manageable with over-the-counter pain relief and ice.

How long is recovery?+

Most people feel close to normal within 3-5 days. The gum tissue closes over in about two weeks, with full bone healing taking a few months. We'll tell you what's normal and what isn't.

What should I do about the gap?+

It depends on which tooth and how it affects your bite. We'll review whether an implant, bridge, or partial denture makes sense for you — or whether the space is fine to leave alone (sometimes it is).