When a tooth cannot be saved, Mountain State Oral and Facial Surgery provides tooth extraction in Charleston, WV at our Oakwood Road office in the South Hills area, minutes from downtown and just off I-64. As oral and maxillofacial surgeons, we handle the extractions general dentists refer out: broken teeth at the gum line, teeth with curved or fused roots, teeth near the nerve or sinus, and patients who need sedation or have complex medical histories.A tooth extraction is the removal of a tooth from its socket in the jawbone, performed either as a simple extraction of a visible tooth or as a surgical extraction when the tooth is broken, impacted, or firmly anchored. Just as important as removing the tooth is protecting what comes next, so we plan every extraction with your future restoration in mind.
When a Tooth Needs to Be Removed
We treat extraction as the last option, not the first. Fillings, crowns, and root canals save most damaged teeth. Removal becomes the right call when:
| • | Decay or a fracture reaches below the gum line and there is not enough healthy tooth left to hold a restoration. |
| • | Infection has spread into the root and surrounding bone and a root canal cannot resolve it. |
| • | Advanced gum disease has destroyed the bone that anchors the tooth, leaving it loose. |
| • | A tooth is impacted or stuck in the bone, most often a wisdom tooth, but sometimes a canine or premolar. |
| • | Orthodontic treatment requires space, or a baby tooth has not fallen out on schedule and is blocking the permanent tooth. |
| • | A tooth is being replaced with a dental implant and needs to come out first, ideally with the socket preserved at the same visit. |
Simple vs. Surgical Extraction
A simple extraction applies to a tooth that is fully visible above the gum. After the area is numbed, the tooth is gently loosened with an instrument called an elevator and lifted out with forceps. A surgical extraction is used when a tooth has broken off at the gum, has not fully erupted, or has roots shaped in a way that resists removal. Your surgeon makes a small incision in the gum, removes a little bone if needed, and often divides the tooth into sections so each piece comes out with minimal force on the surrounding bone. The site is cleaned and closed with dissolving stitches.
Both types are routine for our surgeons. The difference for you is mostly in planning and anesthesia, which we cover at your consultation.
What to Expect at Our Charleston Office
Consultation and Imaging
We start by reviewing your medical history and medications, including blood thinners, and examining the tooth. Digital X-rays show the root shape and its relationship to the nerve or sinus, and for teeth close to those structures we take a 3D cone beam scan so we can plan the safest approach. If the tooth is infected, we may prescribe antibiotics before the appointment.
Anesthesia and Sedation
Every extraction is done under local anesthesia so the area is completely numb. If you would rather not be aware of the procedure, we offer nitrous oxide, IV sedation, and general anesthesia in the office; see our sedation options page. Many Charleston patients who have put off a difficult tooth for years find that sedation is what finally makes the appointment easy.
Recovery
A blood clot forms in the socket within the first hour, and protecting it is the main job for the next few days. You will bite on gauze for about 45 minutes, keep to soft foods, and avoid straws, smoking, and vigorous rinsing. Mild soreness and some swelling are normal for two to three days and are managed with the comfort plan we send home. Most patients return to work the next day after a simple extraction and within a few days after a surgical one. Full instructions are on our post-operative extraction instructions page.
Protecting Your Options After an Extraction
The jawbone begins to shrink as soon as a tooth is gone, and within a year a socket can lose a noticeable amount of its width. That matters if you may ever want an implant in that spot. At the time of extraction, we can place a socket preservation graft that holds the socket's shape while it heals, which keeps a future dental implant in Charleston straightforward instead of requiring a larger bone graft later.
In selected cases, the implant can be placed on the same day the tooth is removed. Your surgeon will tell you at the consultation whether immediate placement, socket preservation, or a healing period is the right sequence for your tooth. Our missing teeth and bone loss page explains why acting early makes a difference.
Benefits of Timely Tooth Extraction
| • | Relief from pain and infection: removing the source of an abscess resolves the pain and stops bacteria from spreading to neighboring teeth or the bloodstream. |
| • | Protection for the rest of your mouth: a badly decayed or infected tooth puts the teeth and bone next to it at risk. |
| • | A clean start for replacement: a well-planned extraction with socket preservation sets up a predictable implant, bridge, or denture. |
| • | Room for orthodontics: strategic extractions let crowded teeth move into a healthy alignment. |
| • | Comfort you control: with sedation available, a procedure you have been dreading becomes a short appointment you barely remember. |
Why Choose Mountain State for Tooth Extraction in Charleston
Two things separate an oral surgery extraction from the routine kind: training and planning. Our surgeons are board-certified and board-eligible oral and maxillofacial surgeons who remove difficult teeth daily and who can provide IV sedation and general anesthesia in the office. Every surgical extraction is planned on imaging, and every extraction is planned with your restoration in mind, whether that is an implant with us or a bridge with your general dentist.
Charleston patients can choose our Oakwood Road office in South Hills or our Kanawha City office on MacCorkle Avenue. We serve the East End, the West Side, Fort Hill, South Hills, and the surrounding Kanawha Valley. Learn about our surgeons on the Meet Our Doctors page, or read our tooth extraction patient stories.
Tooth Extraction Cost and Insurance in Charleston
The cost of an extraction depends on whether it is simple or surgical, the number of teeth, whether a socket preservation graft is placed, and the anesthesia you choose. Most dental insurance plans cover extractions, and our team verifies your benefits and gives you an estimate before your appointment. Monthly payment options are available through Cherry payment plans, CareCredit, LendingClub, and Proceed Finance; see our financial and insurance information page for details.
Tooth Extraction FAQs
Does a tooth extraction hurt?
The tooth and the area around it are fully numbed before anything begins, so what you feel is pressure rather than pain. If you prefer, IV sedation or general anesthesia is available so you are relaxed or asleep. Some soreness for two to three days afterward is normal and is managed with the instructions we send home.
How long does a tooth extraction take?
A simple extraction often takes 20 to 30 minutes including numbing. Surgical extractions and multiple teeth take longer, usually under an hour. Plan on extra time at the office if you are being sedated.
Can I get a dental implant the same day my tooth is pulled?
Sometimes. If there is no active infection and enough healthy bone, an implant can be placed immediately after the extraction. Otherwise we preserve the socket with a small graft and place the implant after a few months of healing. Your surgeon will confirm which sequence fits your tooth at the consultation.
What should I eat after a tooth extraction?
Stick to soft, cool foods for the first day or two, such as yogurt, applesauce, smoothies eaten with a spoon, mashed potatoes, and soup that is not hot. Avoid straws, seeds, crunchy foods, and anything that requires chewing on the extraction side until the site has closed.
Do I need a referral from my dentist?
No. Many patients are referred by their general dentist, but you are welcome to contact our Charleston office directly. Bring any recent X-rays if you have them, and we will coordinate with your dentist on the restoration afterward.
Schedule a Tooth Extraction in Charleston, WV
If a tooth is broken, painful, or your dentist has recommended removal, contact Mountain State Oral and Facial Surgery at (304) 343-5161 to schedule an appointment at our Charleston office at 869 Oakwood Rd, Charleston, WV 25314. Hours are Monday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Friday from 8:00 AM to 2:30 PM.
Our Charleston office also provides wisdom teeth removal, bone grafting, dental implants, and the full scope of oral surgery in Charleston.
