When a tooth should go
We’ll always tell you first if the tooth can be saved — a filling or crown that keeps your natural tooth usually beats any replacement. But some teeth are past the point of rescue: split roots, decay below the gumline, advanced gum disease, or an infection that keeps returning. Keeping a doomed tooth costs more in the end and hurts the neighbors.
The visit itself is calmer than its reputation. Thorough numbing, steady hands, no surprises — we tell you what you’ll feel before you feel it. You leave with written aftercare instructions (in English or Spanish), gauze, and a clear answer on what happens next.
Think one step past the extraction
The most important question isn’t “does it need to come out?” — it’s “what fills the space afterward?” An unreplaced gap lets neighboring teeth drift and bone shrink. Before the extraction, we’ll lay out the realistic options for that space — a bridge, a partial denture, or a referral for an implant consult — with prices, so extraction day is also plan day.
If you want to keep the implant door open, ask about site preservation: a graft placed in the socket the same day that maintains the bone for future work. It’s a small addition on extraction day and expensive to recreate later.