At the Yuba City Dentistry Group, we provide comfortable and efficient tooth extraction care with a focus on preserving your long-term oral health. While our goal is to save natural teeth whenever possible, there are times when removal is the healthiest option – whether due to deep decay, a fracture, crowding, or problematic wisdom teeth. Our Yuba City team talks you through every step, explains additional options for anesthesia, and helps you know what to expect before and after your visit so you can feel confident.
Questions right now? Call (530) 803-4977 or request an appointment online—we’re here to help.
Schedule A Tooth Extraction Consultation
Benefits
Extraction is the quickest path back to comfort and health when a natural tooth can no longer be restored. These are some of the benefits:
- Pain relief from severe infection, fracture, or advanced periodontal disease.
- Protecting adjacent teeth from spreading decay or crowding issues (including problematic wisdom teeth).
- Facilitating orthodontic treatment when space is limited due to crowding.
- Creating a healthy foundation for future tooth replacement with a dental implant or bridge.
Procedure
Extractions are considered a routine minor oral surgery. Your personalized treatment plan depends on the tooth’s condition and position.
Before Your Extraction
- Assessment: We closely review your medical history and take X-rays to determine the extent of the tooth’s roots and evaluate the surrounding bone.
- Anesthesia: Local anesthesia is standard with tooth extraction, and additional sedation options are available for your comfort and will be discussed before treatment.
- Plan Ahead: If IV sedation is planned, wear short sleeves the day of the procedure, and arrange for a driver to get you home safely. In addition, avoid food and drink as instructed.
Types of Extractions
- Simple extraction: For fully erupted teeth. The tooth is gently loosened and removed with forceps.
- Surgical extraction: For teeth that aren’t fully erupted or broken at the gumline. A small incision is made, and bone removal or sectioning of the tooth aids its removal.
During treatment, you should feel pressure but not pain. Tell us immediately if anything feels uncomfortable.
Candidacy & Alternatives
You may be a candidate for extraction if a tooth is badly decayed or fractured, a wisdom tooth is impacted, baby teeth are blocking eruption, or orthodontic space is needed. We’ll also discuss alternatives when appropriate:
- Root canal therapy and a crown for restorable teeth.
- Periodontal treatment if mobility is primarily gum-related.
- Orthodontic solutions instead of extracting for space in select cases.
If extraction is recommended, we also discuss replacement implant options to help maintain normal chewing function and prevent shifting of the teeth.
Cost & Insurance
The cost for tooth extraction varies based on the location of the tooth, the complexity of the extraction, and whether sedation is used. Most dental plans offer partial benefits for necessary extractions. Our Yuba City office team will review your specific coverage and provide you with a cost estimate before you proceed with treatment. We also offer financing options and payment plans through CareCredit®, Cherry and Proceed Finance, making it easier to fit treatment costs into your budget.
Recovery
We provide written, step-by-step instructions tailored to your treatment, including:
- Control the bleeding: Following extraction, bite on a clean gauze pad for 10–20 minutes, replacing it as needed.
- Reduce Pain & Swelling: Use recommended anti-inflammatory medication and apply ice packs to the cheek in 20-minute on/off cycles for the first day.
- Protect the Clot: Avoid forceful rinsing/spitting for the first 24 hours. Reduce the risk of dry socket by avoiding smoking and the use of straws when drinking.
- Choose Food Wisely: Opt for soft, cool foods initially, slowly adding back in additional foods as you become comfortable. Avoid hard, crunchy, or spicy items that may irritate the site.
- Oral hygiene: Avoid touching the extraction site, especially on the first day. Start gentle warm salt-water rinses after 24 hours if advised by your dentist.
- Follow-up: Contact your Yuba City dental team if you experience pain that worsens or if you notice a bad taste or odor.
When healing is complete, we can schedule tooth replacement options such as implants or bridges, or orthodontic treatment (Invisalign) to ensure the space created is used correctly.
Tooth Extraction FAQs
Will the extraction hurt?
We administer local numbing anesthesia, so you should feel only pressure and no sharp pain. Let us know immediately during treatment if you are uncomfortable, and we will promptly adjust our technique.
What’s the difference between a simple and surgical extraction?
A simple extraction easily removes a fully erupted tooth with forceps. For teeth that are broken at the gumline or have not fully erupted, a surgical extraction is necessary. Treatment usually includes a small incision, along with bone smoothing or sectioning the tooth.
How long is the recovery?
Recovery depends on the complexity of the procedure, in addition to how closely the patient follows our written after-care instructions. That said, most of our patients feel remarkably better within 2–3 days and return to their normal daily routines within a week.
What can I eat after my extraction?
Start with cool, soft foods (yogurt, applesauce, mashed potatoes). Avoid hot, crunchy, or spicy foods initially. Slowly return to your regular diet as you feel comfortable and as directed by your dentist.
How do I prevent dry socket?
Protect the blood clot: don’t smoke, avoid straws, skip vigorous rinsing/spitting for 24 hours, and follow hygiene/diet guidance. Call us if the pain increases after initially improving.
Do I need to replace the extracted tooth?
It is your personal decision to do so; however, replacing a missing tooth helps proper chewing and prevents your teeth from shifting. We will review and explain all your options, such as dental implants and bridges, based on your goals and oral health.
