Tooth Extractions in Holladay, UT

Nobody wants a tooth pulled. If it has to happen, here is what the appointment actually involves and how we keep you comfortable while it does.

Services→Restorative Dentistry→Tooth Extractions in Holladay, UT

Almost everyone is nervous about this one. Some people cry, and that is completely fine, and nobody here thinks anything of it. Dr. Cannon has done a great many of these since he opened in 2002, he does not rush, and he will not make you feel silly for being scared.

If a tooth is unsalvageable, our dentist will have to remove it. Once the extraction has been performed, Dr. David S. Cannon can suggest further treatments to restore your oral health and smile. We want you to be happy with your teeth, and we want to help make them healthy and strong. Call us at Pinnacle Dental at 801-274-3889 to schedule your tooth extraction in Holladay, Utah!

Tooth extraction is the removal of a tooth. While we strive to avoid the need to remove a tooth whenever possible, certain conditions may make tooth extraction the most effective option for returning your smile to good health and function. Following the tooth extraction, we are happy to provide you with one of our excellent tooth replacement treatments to restore your smile to optimal health, beauty and function.

Several conditions may necessitate tooth extraction. Among these are:

  • Severe infection that has destroyed a significant portion of the tooth and supporting bone structure
  • Serious decay that has damaged a tooth beyond repair, making a successful restoration impossible
  • Crowding caused by too many teeth to properly fit in the mouth

Our dentist and team use great care and skill when performing a tooth extraction to ensure that your experience is as comfortable and painless as possible. We will also provide you with detailed post-treatment care instructions so that you can properly take care of your smile as it heals. For more information on tooth extraction and to schedule your personalized consultation at our friendly dental office, we invite you to call or visit us today. We are committed to improving your smile!

Reasons people come in for this

  • A tooth broke off near the gumline and there is not enough left to rebuild
  • You have been in pain for days and the tooth is past saving
  • A wisdom tooth at the back keeps getting sore and swollen
  • An orthodontist has asked for a tooth to be removed to make room
  • A baby tooth has not come out and the adult tooth is coming in behind it
  • A tooth has loosened from gum disease and moves when you chew

What it does for you

  • The pain coming from that tooth ends
  • Infection stops spreading into nearby bone
  • You go home with clear day-by-day instructions
  • Crowded teeth get the room they need
  • Replacing the tooth can be planned when you are ready
  • You stop arranging your meals around one bad tooth

About Tooth Extractions

Dr. Cannon numbs the area and gives it time to take hold, then tests it and asks you before he starts. The tooth is loosened first, and that is the part you feel: firm, steady pressure and some rocking, not sharpness, and then it lifts out. A straightforward extraction often needs no cutting and no stitches at all. Gauze goes in, you bite down on it for a while, and we go through the aftercare with you before you get up from the chair.

  • Numb and tested before we start
  • Firm pressure, not sharp pain
  • Often over faster than expected
  • Written aftercare and a number to call

Benefits of Tooth Extractions

Holding on to a tooth that cannot be saved is not doing yourself a favor. Infection at the root does not stay at the root, and it works into the bone and toward neighboring teeth over time. An extraction is one difficult day that ends. A tooth left too long can become a swollen face, an urgent visit and a much bigger problem.

What to Expect

What surprises most people is the timing: waiting for the numbing to work takes longer than the extraction itself, which is frequently over in a few minutes. You will feel pressure and hear some sounds, and knowing in advance that the pressure is normal is most of the battle. Raise your hand whenever you want to pause, and know that people cry sometimes, there are tissues within reach, and no judgment is attached. You are welcome to bring someone in with you, and you can ask anything in English or Spanish, because all of us speak both.

Common Questions

Will it hurt?
You will be numb before anything begins, and Dr. Cannon tests the area and asks you first. What you feel during the extraction is firm pressure and movement, not sharp pain, because pressure is not blocked by anesthetic the way pain is. If you feel anything sharp, raise your hand and he will stop and add more. Afterward there is soreness for a few days, and we will tell you exactly what to take for it.
How long will I be in the chair?
Less time than you are imagining. Most of the appointment is the numbing and the waiting for it to work, and a straightforward extraction itself is often finished in a few minutes. A tooth that is broken down or awkwardly positioned takes longer, and Dr. Cannon will tell you honestly which kind yours looks like before you commit to anything.
I am really frightened. What can I do?
Tell us when you book, not when you arrive. We will give you a longer appointment and usually a morning slot so you are not dreading it all day. Bring headphones and bring a person if that helps. You will be numb rather than sleepy, so most people drive themselves home afterward, but there is no reason not to have someone with you if you would feel better for it.
What is recovery like?
Bite on the gauze for the first hour or so, and let the clot in the socket be, because it is what protects the site while it heals. Stick to soft, cool food for a day. No straws, no smoking, no vigorous rinsing for the first twenty-four hours, then warm salt water rinses after that. Call us at 801-274-3889 if bleeding will not settle, or if pain gets worse rather than better around day three.
What does it cost, and can the tooth be replaced?
The cost depends on the tooth and your coverage, and we will check your benefits and give you the number before starting. We accept Cigna, MetLife, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Dental Select, Delta Dental and Deseret Mutual, with CareCredit and our in-office membership plan available if you do not have insurance. If you would like the gap filled later, a dental bridge is one option, and there is no hurry to decide on the day of your extraction.

Terms You May Hear

Local anesthetic
The numbing medicine injected near the tooth before an extraction. It stops pain in that area but not the sense of pressure, so feeling pushing and movement is expected and normal.
Socket
The space in the jawbone where the root of the tooth used to sit. A blood clot forms in it within a few hours, and that clot is what the aftercare instructions are protecting.
Dry socket
What it is called when that clot is lost too early, usually from smoking, straws or hard rinsing. It shows up as pain increasing a few days after the extraction, and it is treatable, so call us if it happens.

Ready to Schedule Your Appointment?

Call 801-274-3889, and tell us on the phone that you are nervous so we can plan the visit around it.