First, Dr. Van Maren will examine your mouth and teeth, and we may take X-rays of the questionable tooth so he can evaluate its root and the bone that surrounds it. Be sure to tell him about any medical conditions you may have, or problems you've had with previous extractions. You'll also need to be sure to tell us about any medicines or supplements you're taking, including aspirin, ibuprofen, herbal supplements and any other over- the-counter medicines. If you take oral contraceptives, we'll need to know about that, as well, because you could be more prone to having problems with healing. If Dr. finds a significant amount of infection during the exam, he may prescribe an antibiotic for you to take for several days before your tooth is extracted. Be sure to take them exactly as directed.

There are a number of situations that indicate your tooth needs to be extracted. Perhaps the tooth is badly decayed and cannot be saved, or the gums surrounding it have advanced periodontal disease (gum disease) so there's no longer enough bone and connective tissue to hold the tooth in your jaw. Other teeth need to be removed because they aren't positioned correctly in the mouth and there is no other solution, as is the case when wisdom teeth are impacted.

Before Dr. Van Maren begins the extraction, he'll use anesthetic to numb the tooth and surrounding area. Once you're completely numb, he’ll use instruments called "elevators" or forceps to remove your tooth.