When a tooth can no longer be saved, our board-certified periodontists remove it with care, precision, and an eye toward what comes next, whether that's healing, a bone graft, or a future implant.
Not every extraction is straightforward. Teeth that are fractured below the gumline, impacted, or loosened by advanced gum disease often need a surgeon's hands rather than a general dentist's. As specialists in the gum and bone tissue that anchor every tooth, our periodontists are trained to remove even the most complicated teeth gently, with a clear plan for protecting the surrounding bone.
A surgical or periodontal extraction is simply the careful removal of a tooth that is too damaged, infected, or compromised by periodontal disease to keep functioning safely in your mouth. Left in place, these teeth can allow infection to spread, cause ongoing pain, or accelerate bone loss around neighboring teeth.
Many patients come to us specifically because their extraction is the first step toward something else, restoring a healthy bite with a dental implant. When that's the goal, we plan the extraction itself with the future implant in mind, often recommending a socket preservation graft on the same day to protect the bone.
Every extraction begins with a plan. Here is how we approach your visit from start to finish.
We start with a thorough exam and digital imaging to understand the tooth's position, the surrounding bone, and the safest way to remove it.
Local anesthesia keeps the area completely numb. For anxious patients or more involved extractions, we discuss sedation options so you feel calm throughout.
Using precise, minimally traumatic technique, we remove the tooth while protecting the bone and gum tissue that remain, which matters most if an implant is planned later.
When appropriate, we place a small bone graft into the socket at the same visit to preserve its shape and volume for future restoration.
Dr. Rana Shahi, Dr. Priscilla Young, and Dr. Ivan Yi are all board-certified periodontists trained specifically in the surgical extraction of complex, impacted, and periodontally compromised teeth.
From gentle handling to sedation options for anxious patients, our team is committed to making an extraction as calm and comfortable as possible.
We think ahead. If an implant is in your future, we build socket preservation into your extraction from day one, rather than leaving that decision for later.
With 240+ five-star patient reviews across Google and Yelp, patients throughout Los Angeles trust our periodontists for careful, honest, specialist-level surgical care.
A tooth is fractured, decayed, or broken beyond what a filling or crown can repair.
Advanced periodontal disease has caused the tooth to loosen or shift.
You have a persistent infection, abscess, or ongoing pain around a tooth.
An impacted or partially erupted tooth is causing discomfort or crowding.
You're preparing for dental implants or a denture and need a tooth removed first.
Your general dentist has referred you for a tooth that's too complex to remove in their office.
Schedule a consultation with our periodontists to discuss your tooth, your comfort options, and what comes next.
The area is fully numbed with local anesthesia before we begin, so you shouldn't feel pain during the extraction itself. Some pressure is normal. We also offer sedation options for patients who feel anxious or are having a more involved extraction.
Most patients feel noticeably better within a few days, with initial soft tissue healing over one to two weeks. Complete bone healing inside the socket takes longer, which is part of why we often recommend socket preservation grafting when planning for a future implant.
It depends on the tooth, the condition of the surrounding bone, and whether there is infection present. In some cases an implant can be placed the same day. In others, we recommend allowing the socket to heal, sometimes with the help of a bone graft, before moving forward with a dental implant. We'll walk you through the option that fits your situation.
Socket preservation is a small bone graft placed into the extraction site right after the tooth is removed. It helps maintain the natural shape and volume of the bone, which is especially important if you're planning to replace the tooth with an implant later. Not every extraction needs it, but we'll let you know if it's a good fit for you.
Every extraction includes local anesthesia to keep you numb and comfortable. For patients who feel anxious about dental visits or are undergoing a more complex surgical extraction, we also offer additional sedation options to help you relax. We'll discuss what makes sense for you during your consultation.
Expect some tenderness and mild swelling for the first day or two, which ice packs and rest can help manage. We'll send you home with clear aftercare instructions covering diet, oral hygiene around the site, and activity to avoid while the area heals.
Periodontists receive additional surgical training focused on the gum and bone tissue surrounding teeth. When a tooth is impacted, fractured at the gumline, or compromised by gum disease, that extra training helps us remove it more predictably and protect the bone underneath, which matters most if you're planning future implant treatment.
Not every extracted tooth needs to be replaced, but leaving a gap can allow neighboring teeth to shift and bone in the area to gradually shrink over time. During your consultation, we'll discuss whether an implant, bridge, or other option makes sense for your bite and long-term oral health.
We'll confirm your visit within one business day.
