Tooth Extraction in NW Calgary
All Smiles Dental Care provides tooth extractions in NW Calgary at 5149 Country Hills Blvd NW. When a tooth cannot be saved, our general dentists remove it with local anesthesia and care for children and adults, with sedation options available if you feel anxious.
When Is a Tooth Extraction Needed?
We always try to save your natural teeth first. Sometimes a tooth is too damaged or infected to repair, and removing it relieves pain, stops infection from spreading and protects your remaining teeth.
Patients come to us for tooth extractions from Country Hills, Hamptons, Hidden Valley, Panorama Hills, Coventry Hills, Evanston, Sandstone, Kincora, Nolan Hill, Sherwood and the surrounding NW Calgary communities. If you are in pain right now, see our page for an emergency dentist in NW Calgary.
Common reasons for removing a tooth
- Severe decay that cannot be restored
- Advanced gum disease with significant bone loss
- A broken or fractured tooth, including breaks below the gum line
- Overcrowding, when a tooth needs to be removed to make room
- Impacted wisdom teeth that cause pain, infection or damage
- Baby teeth that do not fall out on time
- An infection or abscess that does not respond to a root canal or antibiotics
Before we recommend an extraction, your dentist will look at your tooth and take digital X-rays. If the tooth may be saved, we will talk with you about root canal therapy first. You can also read our guide on what to expect when having a tooth extracted.
Simple vs Surgical Extraction
There are two types of extraction. Your dentist will tell you which one your tooth needs after an exam.
| Simple extraction | Surgical extraction | |
|---|---|---|
| Used for | A tooth that is visible and easy to reach | An impacted tooth or a tooth that has broken off below the gum line |
| How it is done | The tooth is loosened and removed with local anesthesia | The dentist makes a small incision in the gum and may remove a little bone to reach the tooth |
| Anesthesia | Local anesthesia | Local anesthesia, with sedation options for anxious patients |
| Aftercare | Gauze, rest and soft foods | The same steps, and your dentist may add instructions for the incision |
What Happens During a Tooth Extraction
- Exam and X-rays. Your dentist reviews the tooth and the surrounding bone and explains the plan.
- Numbing. Local anesthesia numbs the tooth and the area around it. You should feel pressure but not sharp pain.
- Removal. The tooth is loosened and removed. A surgical extraction includes a small incision in the gum.
- Gauze and instructions. You bite on clean gauze to help a blood clot form, and we give you aftercare instructions.
- Replacement planning. If you want to replace the tooth, we go over your options.
If dental visits make you nervous, ask about sedation dentistry. We offer nitrous oxide, oral sedation and local anesthesia.
Aftercare: Caring for Your Mouth After an Extraction
The first day or two matter most because a blood clot forms in the empty socket and starts the healing. Protecting it helps prevent a painful problem called dry socket.
- Bite gently on clean gauze for the time your dentist tells you
- Apply an ice pack to your cheek in short intervals to reduce swelling
- Take pain medication as directed by your dentist
- Avoid using a straw, spitting hard or touching the area with your tongue
- Do not smoke for at least 48 hours
- Rinse gently as instructed, and brush your other teeth as usual
- Stick to soft foods at first
Call us if you have heavy bleeding that does not ease with gentle pressure, a fever, swelling that is getting worse or pain that grows stronger after the first few days. Go to the nearest emergency room if you have trouble breathing or swallowing.
What to eat after a tooth extraction
Choose soft, cool or lukewarm foods for the first day or two and add firmer foods as you feel comfortable. Chew on the opposite side. Our blog post has more ideas on what you can eat after having a tooth extracted.
| Good choices | Avoid for the first few days | |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 to 2 | Yogurt, applesauce, mashed potatoes, smoothies eaten with a spoon, lukewarm soup, scrambled eggs, pudding | Hot drinks and soup, crunchy or hard foods, spicy foods, anything that needs a straw |
| As you heal | Pasta, soft rice, tender fish, cooked vegetables, oatmeal | Chips, nuts, popcorn, chewy candy and sticky foods |
Replacing a Missing Tooth
After an extraction, neighbouring teeth can slowly shift into the gap, and chewing can become harder. Replacing the tooth helps keep your bite balanced. Depending on your situation, your dentist may talk with you about a dental implant, a fixed bridge or dentures.
Why Choose All Smiles Dental Care for Tooth Extractions
- General dentists caring for children and adults at one family-friendly clinic
- Local anesthesia, plus nitrous oxide and oral sedation for anxious patients
- Digital X-rays and intraoral cameras to plan treatment clearly
- Appointment times held open each day for emergency patients
- Direct insurance billing
- 0% financing available
- Monday evening hours, early Thursday and Friday starts and Saturday appointments
- A convenient NW Calgary location in the Country Hills area
Cost of a Tooth Extraction in Calgary
The cost of an extraction depends on the tooth, whether it needs a simple or surgical approach and whether you choose sedation, so we cannot give an accurate price before your dentist examines you. After your exam, we go over your treatment plan with you. We bill insurance directly and offer 0% financing, and our team can explain your coverage and payment options when you call 403-777-3567.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is a tooth extraction necessary?
An extraction is needed when a tooth is too damaged or infected to repair. Common reasons include severe decay, advanced gum disease, a tooth broken below the gum line, an abscess that does not respond to other treatment and impacted wisdom teeth that cause pain or infection. We try to save natural teeth first, and your dentist will explain your options after an exam and X-rays.
Does a tooth extraction hurt?
We numb the tooth and the area around it with local anesthesia first, so you should feel pressure but not sharp pain. If you feel anxious, ask about nitrous oxide or oral sedation. Some soreness is normal once the numbness wears off, and your dentist will tell you how to manage it with pain medication and aftercare.
What is the difference between a simple and a surgical extraction?
A simple extraction removes a tooth that is visible and easy to reach, using local anesthesia. A surgical extraction is for an impacted tooth or one broken off below the gum line, and it involves a small incision in the gum and sometimes removing a little bone. Your dentist will tell you which one you need.
What can I eat after a tooth extraction?
For the first day or two, choose soft, cool or lukewarm foods such as yogurt, applesauce, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs and lukewarm soup. Chew on the other side and avoid straws, hot drinks, spicy foods and crunchy or chewy foods like chips, nuts and popcorn. Add firmer foods back as you feel comfortable.
How long does it take to recover from a tooth extraction?
Recovery varies with the tooth and the type of extraction. The first two days matter most while a blood clot forms, so rest, avoid straws and do not smoke for at least 48 hours. Call us if bleeding does not ease with gentle pressure, or if swelling or pain gets worse after the first few days.
Should I replace a tooth after it is pulled?
Often, yes. Neighbouring teeth can shift into the gap and chewing can become harder. Options include a dental implant, a fixed bridge or dentures, and the right choice depends on your mouth and your goals. Your dentist can go over each option with you at your visit.
How much does a tooth extraction cost in Calgary?
The cost depends on the tooth, whether it needs a simple or surgical extraction and whether you choose sedation, so a price can only be given after an exam. We bill insurance directly and offer 0% financing. Call 403-777-3567 and our team can explain your coverage and payment options.
Book Your Tooth Extraction Consultation
Have a painful or damaged tooth? Call All Smiles Dental Care and we will help you decide on the next step. You can also book a visit online or read about our NW Calgary dental clinic.
- Monday:9 AM to 8 PM
- Tuesday:8 AM to 4 PM
- Wednesday:8 AM to 5 PM
- Thursday:7 AM to 4 PM
- Friday:7 AM to 4 PM
- Saturday:9 AM to 4 PM
- Sunday:Closed
All Smiles Dental Care, 5149 Country Hills Blvd NW, #206, Calgary, AB T3A 5K8, 403-777-3567
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