The area is fully numb throughout. Afterward there is soreness for a few days, and you will be given instructions and something for discomfort before you leave.

What do I do about the gap?

That is what the planning conversation before the extraction is for. Leaving a gap indefinitely causes bone loss and lets the neighboring teeth drift, so it is worth deciding early even if the replacement happens later.

How long is recovery?

Most people are comfortable within a few days. We will tell you what to eat, what to avoid, and what would be worth a phone call.

Tooth Extractions

Tooth Extractions in Kearny Mesa

When keeping it costs more than losing it.

Call (858) 256-4838 Text (858) 256-4838

At a glance

What it is: Removal of a tooth that cannot be saved.
Where: Kearny Mesa Smile Center, 8018 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, San Diego, CA 92111.
When: Fridays and Saturdays, 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
Afterward: We plan the replacement before the extraction, not after.

Holding On Too LongCosts You More

Nobody wants to lose a tooth, and Dr. Cortes will try hard to save one that can be saved. But a tooth that is beyond saving is not neutral while you decide. Infection spreads, the bone around it is lost, and the teeth beside it start to drift.

There is a point where removing it and planning what replaces it leaves you better off than keeping it another year.

How Tooth Extractions Work

01. Imaging. We look at the tooth, the roots and the bone around them before anything is decided.
02. The conversation about what comes next. This happens before the extraction, not after. Whether you are looking at an implant, a bridge or a partial, the plan is easier and often better if it is made while the tooth is still there.
03. Numbing. The area is fully numb before we begin.
04. The extraction. Most are quicker and less dramatic than people expect.
05. Aftercare. You leave with specific instructions and you know exactly what to expect over the next few days.

When A SpecialistIs The Better Answer

Some extractions belong in a surgical setting. When your case is one of them, Dr. Cortes will tell you at the planning stage. Depending on what it needs, a specialist may come into this office to work alongside him, or we may refer that part of the treatment to their office. You will know which before anything starts.

Tooth extractions in Kearny Mesa

Extractions are done on Fridays and Saturdays at 8018 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. If you are in pain during the week, text (858) 256-4838 with a photo of the tooth and we will hold you the next open day.