Tooth Extraction in Atlanta: What to Expect From an Oral Surgeon

Hearing that a tooth can't be saved is hard, even when it has been bothering you for a while. In Atlanta, a tooth extraction with board-certified oral surgeon Dr. Jennifer Okhiria starts with a 3D scan and a conversation about what will replace the tooth, so the day it comes out is also the first step toward what comes next. Most single extractions heal in about one to two weeks, and you go home with written instructions and a follow-up call from her.

Deciding a Tooth Can't Be Saved

Keeping your own tooth is usually the best choice when a filling, crown or root canal has a real chance of working, and in most cases your dentist has already tried or ruled those out before sending you to us. Dr. Okhiria confirms it on a CBCT scan, a 3D image that shows the tooth, the bone around it and the nerves nearby, and she walks you through it on a big screen so you can see exactly what she sees. If she thinks the tooth still has a chance, she'll tell you and send you back to your dentist to try, because an extraction is the one step that can't be undone. So what usually puts a tooth past saving?

Common Reasons a Tooth Comes Out

Deep decay, a fracture or an infection that a crown or root canal can't fix are the reasons Dr. Okhiria sees most often. Wisdom teeth are their own story, and you can read about them in our guide to wisdom teeth that don't hurt. For kids and teens, the reason is often a baby tooth or an extra tooth that is blocking an adult tooth, and that timing is planned with their orthodontist.

Planning for What Replaces the Tooth

If you might want an implant later, it's worth deciding before the extraction, not after. A bone graft placed in the socket the same day keeps the bone from shrinking while it heals, which makes the implant simpler down the road. When several teeth come out at once, an immediate denture can go in at the same visit, so you aren't left without teeth: your general dentist usually makes it, and we coordinate the timing with them. You can read more about bone grafting in Atlanta and single-tooth implants.

Staying Comfortable on Extraction Day

The area is numbed completely with local anesthesia, so you feel pressure, not pain, and for many simple extractions that is all you need. Many people like to add laughing gas, which helps you feel calm and wears off within minutes after the mask comes off. For longer or more complex extractions, IV sedation lets you rest through it and remember little afterward. Dr. Okhiria reviews your health at the consult and helps you choose, and if you have sedation, an adult needs to drive you home and stay with you for the rest of the day. Our guide to IV sedation vs laughing gas compares the options side by side.

Healing in the Days After

A blood clot forms in the socket and protects it while it heals, so the first days are about keeping that clot in place. Mayo Clinic describes dry socket as what happens when that clot is lost and the bone underneath is exposed, and it's the main reason your instructions say no straws and no smoking for a while. Stick to soft foods for the first several days, rest more than you think you need to, and follow the written instructions you take home. Most single extractions heal in about one to two weeks, and our first-week aftercare guide walks through it day by day.

Extractions at The Buckhead Oral Surgery Suite

Dr. Okhiria is a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and extractions and wisdom teeth are a big part of her week. "We are what we repeatedly do," she likes to say. Every extraction starts with a CBCT scan and ends with written aftercare and a follow-up call from the surgeon herself. We don't do fillings, crowns or root canals, so if a tooth might be saved, the right place to start is your general dentist or an endodontist, and we'll tell you that. Most patients come to us with a referral from their dentist, and you're welcome without one. The office is on the eighth floor at 1800 Peachtree Road in Buckhead. Read more about tooth extractions in Atlanta.

Common Questions About Tooth Extractions in Atlanta

These are the questions Atlanta patients ask us most often before an extraction.

Does a tooth extraction hurt?

The area is fully numbed with local anesthesia, so most patients feel pressure, not pain. Laughing gas or IV sedation can help if you feel anxious. Afterward, expect some soreness for a few days. Dr. Okhiria in Atlanta sends you home with written instructions and calls to check on you herself.

How long does it take to heal after a tooth extraction?

Most single extractions heal in about one to two weeks. Plan on soft foods for the first several days and follow the written instructions you receive at The Buckhead Oral Surgery Suite in Atlanta. Healing varies from person to person, and Dr. Okhiria checks in after your procedure to see how you're doing.

Should I get a bone graft when my tooth is pulled?

If you might want an implant later, a graft placed in the socket the same day keeps the bone from shrinking and makes the implant simpler. Not everyone needs one. Dr. Okhiria in Atlanta reviews your 3D scan and explains whether a graft makes sense for your tooth before anything is decided.

Can I get a denture the same day as my extractions?

Often, yes. When several teeth come out at once, an immediate denture can go in at the same visit, so you aren't left without teeth. Your general dentist usually makes it, and The Buckhead Oral Surgery Suite in Atlanta coordinates the timing with them from the first consult.

Do I need a referral for a tooth extraction?

No. Many patients come to us through their general dentist, but you can request a consult directly at our Atlanta office. Bring any recent X-rays if you have them. If a filling, crown or root canal might still save the tooth, Dr. Okhiria will tell you and send you to the right place.

A Clear Plan Before the Tooth Comes Out