Tooth extractions are sometimes needed if your tooth is damaged beyond repair or if that tooth is causing issues for your other teeth. We can either perform a simple or a surgical extraction, depending on the specific dental condition. Anesthetic is used if necessary, to ensure your comfort during the extraction procedure. Wy'East Dental can also talk to you about restoration options as well.
Simple Extractions
The reasons why we would need to perform an extraction are mostly the same for both simple and surgical extractions. Some of these reasons include severe tooth damage, decay, gum disease, and overcrowding. A simple extraction is a procedure for patients whose teeth are visible above the gumline. We only need to use a local anesthetic to prevent discomfort, and this is also a very quick procedure.
To start, we will apply the local anesthetic to the gum around the tooth. Once this sets in, we can use a dental elevator to loosen it, and then use forceps to pull the tooth out of the gum. A blood clot will set in rather quickly, so no sutures are needed. However, we may provide gauze if necessary, to help the blood clot form.
A local anesthetic will make your gums and surrounding tissues feel numb for several hours. The extraction site should heal completely within 10 days.
Surgical Extractions
Surgical extraction would be needed if we are unable to access your tooth above the gumline. This would also be used for dental conditions that would require us to remove gum and bone tissue as well. A surgical extraction is performed under both local and general anesthetic.
After anesthesia sets in, we can incise the gum or soft tissue covering your impacted tooth. Surgical tools or a laser may be used to cut through bone if necessary. Once we can access your tooth, we will use the same dental elevator and forceps used with simple extractions to remove your tooth.
Our dentist, Dr. Bryan Schofield, will close and suture the incision once the tooth has been removed. With surgical extractions, it is common that the tooth needs to be cut and removed in smaller pieces, rather than as a whole tooth. Your blood will still clot, but it will not be as effective as it is with simple extractions. This is because the incision is larger than the small opening created with simple extractions. In addition to sutures, we will cover the wound with gauze to control bleeding.
You will likely feel numb for several hours and tired for the remainder of your day following general anesthesia. This site will take a bit longer to heal than a simple extraction, but you should be fully recovered within a few weeks.
Restoration Options
We will usually need to let the extraction site heal before we can place a dental restoration. You may get a temporary restoration or space maintainer while you heal to prevent teeth shifting. Depending on how many teeth you have lost, some of your restoration options include dental crowns, dental bridges, and dentures. These can also be supported by dental implants in some cases.
For additional information on extractions, call Wy'East Dental at (503) 919-2802.
Tooth Extraction Happy Valley • Wy’East Dental Get safe, comfortable tooth extractions at Wy’East Dental in Happy Valley, OR—gentle care to restore your oral health and prepare for future treatments. Wy'East Dental, 9201 SE 91st Ave, #140, Happy Valley, Oregon 97086 | (503) 919-2802 | wyeastdental.com | 10/28/2025 | Tags: dentist Happy Valley OR |
Tooth extractions are sometimes needed if your tooth is damaged beyond repair or if that tooth is causing issues for your other teeth. We can either perform a simple or a surgical extraction, depending on the specific dental condition. Anesthetic is used if necessary, to ensure your comfort during the extraction procedure.