Tooth Extractions & Wisdom Teeth in Beaverton, OR
When a tooth cannot be saved, Dr. Gvozden explains your options clearly and removes it with care, using local anesthesia, with hospital-based surgical training and more than 40 years of clinical experience.
When does a tooth need to come out?
Dentists work hard to keep natural teeth, and extraction is usually the last option, not the first. But some situations leave no good alternative:
- A tooth broken below the gumline, or with a crack running into the root
- Decay so deep that a filling, root canal or crown cannot rebuild it
- Advanced gum disease that has left a tooth loose (see gum disease treatment)
- A wisdom tooth that is impacted, infected, or damaging the tooth next to it
- A tooth blocking others from coming in, or one that needs to go before dentures or orthodontic work
Dr. Gvozden will show you the X-ray, explain what he sees, and lay out what saving the tooth would involve compared with removing it. The decision is yours, and we will not rush it unless infection makes it urgent.
Simple versus surgical extraction
The two terms describe how much work it takes to reach the tooth, not how serious you should feel about it.
Simple extraction
The tooth is visible in the mouth. After numbing, the dentist loosens it with an instrument called an elevator and lifts it out with forceps. You will feel pressure and pushing, but not sharp pain. The active work is often quite brief.
Surgical extraction
Used for teeth that have broken off at the gumline, have curved or unusually shaped roots, or sit partly or fully under the gum or bone. A small opening is made in the gum, and sometimes the tooth is sectioned so it comes out in pieces with less force on the surrounding bone. Stitches are common.
Dr. Gvozden’s background includes hospital-based surgical training in Sarajevo and Belgrade, an academic appointment in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery at OHSU School of Dentistry, and more than 40 years of clinical experience. That is why many surgical extractions can be handled right here in Beaverton, without a trip to a separate surgical office.
Wisdom teeth: remove them or leave them?
Not every wisdom tooth needs to go. A third molar that has erupted fully, sits in a healthy bite, and can be cleaned properly can often stay. We recommend removal when a wisdom tooth is:
- Repeatedly infected or swollen (a condition called pericoronitis)
- Decayed, or causing decay in the second molar in front of it
- Pushing against neighboring teeth or sitting at an angle that traps food
- Associated with a cyst or other change seen on imaging
Teens and young adults are often evaluated for wisdom teeth on X-rays before symptoms start. If your teenager is approaching that stage, Dr. Hsu can flag it during teen dentistry visits and coordinate with Dr. Gvozden.
Being upfront: teeth that are deeply buried against the jaw nerve, or that need sedation beyond local anesthesia, are sometimes best handled by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. If your case falls there, we will say so plainly and refer you, rather than stretch beyond what is right for you.
What to expect, step by step
- Exam and X-rays. We look at the tooth, the roots, nearby nerves and your health history, including medications such as blood thinners.
- Numbing. Local anesthetic is placed until the area is fully numb. Tell us if you feel anything sharp, and we will add more.
- Removal. The tooth is loosened and removed gently, with as little bone disturbance as possible.
- Socket care. The area is cleaned, stitches are placed if needed, and gauze is positioned to control bleeding.
- Aftercare review. You leave with written instructions and a number to call if something does not feel right.
Healing at home: the first days
A blood clot forms in the empty socket, and protecting it is the single most important thing you can do.
Do
- Bite firmly on gauze for the time we advise, and replace it if soaked
- Keep your head raised when resting
- Use a cold pack on the cheek in short intervals the first day
- Eat soft, cool foods such as yogurt, eggs and soup that is not hot
- Begin gentle warm salt-water rinses the day after, if we say it is okay
- Take pain relievers exactly as directed by your dentist
Avoid for several days
- Spitting forcefully, or using a straw
- Smoking or vaping, which raises the risk of a painful dry socket
- Hard, crunchy or tiny-seeded foods near the site
- Vigorous exercise on the first day
- Poking at the area with your tongue or fingers
Some oozing and swelling are normal. Call us if bleeding will not slow with firm pressure, if pain worsens after the third day instead of easing, or if you develop fever or a bad taste that will not clear. Those can signal a dry socket or infection, and both are easy to treat when caught early.
Replacing the tooth afterward
A missing tooth is not only a cosmetic matter. Neighboring teeth drift, the opposing tooth can over-erupt, and the bone where the root was slowly shrinks. Depending on the location, options include a dental implant, a bridge, or a partial denture. Back molars are sometimes left unreplaced, and we can talk through whether that suits your bite.
If an implant is a possibility, tell us before the extraction. Placing bone graft material in the socket at the time of removal, often called socket preservation, can keep more of the ridge intact for later.
Emergency situations, such as a knocked-out or badly broken tooth, are covered on our emergency dentist page. For everything else, we are happy to check your dental benefits before your visit, and you can ask about payment options when you call (503) 822-0096.
Questions patients often ask
Does a tooth extraction hurt?
The area is numbed with local anesthetic, so you should feel pressure and movement but not sharp pain. Soreness afterward is normal and usually eases over several days with the pain relief your dentist recommends.
How long does a tooth extraction take to heal?
The gum surface typically feels much better within a week or so, while the bone underneath keeps remodeling for months. Healing varies with the tooth, your health and whether you smoke.
Can Dr. Gvozden remove impacted wisdom teeth?
Many wisdom teeth, including some impacted ones, can be removed here. If X-rays show a tooth very close to the jaw nerve or a case that needs deeper sedation, we will refer you to an oral surgeon and explain why.
What is a dry socket and how do I avoid it?
A dry socket happens when the blood clot is lost from the socket, exposing bone and causing throbbing pain a few days after removal. Avoid straws, smoking and forceful spitting, and call us if pain gets worse instead of better.
Should I take antibiotics before an extraction?
Only some people need them, such as those with an active infection or certain medical conditions. Share your full health history at your visit so Dr. Gvozden can decide what is appropriate for you.
Can I get a same-day extraction if I have a painful tooth?
Call us at (503) 822-0096 and describe what is happening. We will do our best to see urgent problems promptly, though what can be done the same day depends on the situation and the schedule.
Are tooth extractions covered by insurance?
Extractions are commonly covered, with differences between simple and surgical removal. We check your plan first, including for wisdom teeth. See our insurance and payment options page or call (503) 822-0096.
Ready to book your child’s visit?
Tell us a little about your family and we’ll reach out to find a time that works. New patients — kids, teens and adults — are welcome, and we accept almost all dental insurance and the Oregon Health Plan (OHP).