Tooth Extractions in Duluth, MN
When a tooth can't be saved, we remove it gently, protect the socket with your own PRF, and plan what replaces it the same day.
Mount Royal Dental does extractions in our office with numbing, sedation if you want it, and a plan for the gap before you leave.
Key highlights
- A tooth extraction removes a tooth that's too damaged, infected, or crowded to keep.
- We try to save the tooth first. Extraction is the answer when nothing else is.
- We place PRF, made from a small sample of your blood, in the socket. Studies show it reduces pain, swelling, and dry socket.
- Most simple extractions take under 30 minutes with numbing alone.
- Impacted wisdom teeth and complex cases go to an oral surgeon, and we'll say so.
- The gap needs a plan. Bone starts shrinking within months.
When a tooth needs to come out
When decay has taken most of the tooth and there's nothing left to hold a crown.
Cracks above the gum get crowns. Cracks that run into the root split the tooth, and nothing holds that together.
A failed root canal, or an abscess in a tooth too damaged to treat.
Bone loss so far along that the tooth is loose and the socket can't be saved.
Occasionally, to make room. We do this less than we used to, because expansion often makes the room instead.
Erupted wisdom teeth that are decayed or causing problems, we can remove here. Impacted ones go to an oral surgeon.
A baby tooth holding up an adult tooth underneath.
Can the tooth be saved instead?
Often, yes. We check every option first.
| The problem | Save it with | Extract when |
|---|---|---|
| Deep decay | Filling, onlay, or crown | Not enough tooth is left above the gum |
| Infected nerve | Root canal and crown | The root is cracked or the canal can't be treated |
| Cracked tooth | Crown | The crack reaches the root |
| Loose from gum disease | Deep cleaning and laser therapy | Bone loss is too far along |
Dr. Camille Zelen's rule for every case is to protect tooth structure. An extraction is the last tool, and we'll show you on the x-ray why it's the right one.
Simple vs. surgical extraction
| Simple extraction | Surgical extraction | |
|---|---|---|
| The tooth | Visible, intact enough to grip | Broken at the gum, impacted, or curved roots |
| How | Loosened and lifted out | A small gum opening, sometimes the tooth sectioned |
| Numbing | Local, with nitrous or oral sedation if you want | Local plus sedation; some cases referred for IV sedation |
| Time | Under 30 minutes | 30 to 60 minutes |
| Stitches | Rarely | Usually, dissolving |
| Where | Our office | Our office for most; oral surgeon for impacted wisdom teeth and complex cases |
What PRF does for the socket
PRF stands for platelet-rich fibrin. We draw a small tube of your blood, spin it for a few minutes, and get a clot packed with your own healing cells. It goes into the socket after the tooth comes out.
A 2021 systematic review in the International Journal of Implant Dentistry found that PRF in extraction sockets reduced pain and improved soft tissue healing, with better socket fill in most studies compared with letting the socket heal on its own. A separate meta-analysis of wisdom tooth extractions found less pain, less swelling, and fewer dry sockets with PRF.
Nothing is added. It's your own blood, concentrated.
Is extraction right for your tooth?
Extraction is likely the answer
- A tooth broken below the gum with nothing to crown
- A crack into the root
- A decayed or problem wisdom tooth that has erupted
Let's talk it through first
- A tooth with a failed root canal, where retreatment may work
- A loose tooth from gum disease that may stabilize with treatment
- A baby tooth that may still fall out on its own
Save it instead
- Deep decay with enough tooth for a crown
- An infected nerve in a sound tooth
- A tooth you're considering pulling to avoid a root canal
What we do, and what we don't
What we do
We do simple and most surgical extractions in our office, with numbing, nitrous oxide, or oral sedation. We place PRF in every socket. We plan the replacement at the same visit, and we can often place an implant the same day the tooth comes out when the site allows.
What we don't
We don't pull a tooth that can be saved. We don't remove impacted wisdom teeth or do extractions that need IV sedation or a hospital setting. Those go to an oral surgeon, and we coordinate the referral. We also don't send you home without a plan for the gap.
Your extraction, step by step
- 01Exam and x-ray.We confirm the tooth can't be saved and look at the root shape and the bone around it. We check your health history and medications, including blood thinners.
- 02The plan for the gap.Implant, bridge, or partial. If an implant is the plan, we may place it the same day or let the PRF-filled socket heal first.
- 03Numbing.Local anesthetic. Nitrous oxide or oral sedation if you want it. You feel pressure, not pain.
- 04The extraction.We loosen the tooth and lift it out. For a surgical case, a small opening in the gum and sometimes the tooth in pieces. The PRF goes in, and stitches if needed.
- 05Gauze and instructions.You bite on gauze for 30 to 45 minutes. We send you home with written care instructions and a direct number.
- 06Follow-up.A short visit in a week to check healing and remove stitches if they haven't dissolved.
Healing, day by day
| When | What's normal | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| First 24 hours | Oozing, swelling starting, numbness wearing off | Gauze, cold pack, rest, soft food, no straws or smoking |
| Days 2 to 3 | Peak swelling and soreness | Ibuprofen or acetaminophen as directed, warm salt rinses after 24 hours |
| Days 4 to 7 | Swelling fades, socket closing | Return to normal food gradually, keep rinsing |
| Weeks 2 to 4 | Gum healed over | Brush the area normally |
| Months 2 to 4 | Bone fills the socket | Implant placement window |
Dry socket and how to avoid it
Dry socket happens when the blood clot in the socket comes loose too early and exposes bone. It hurts, usually starting on day three. PRF lowers the risk because the clot is already in place and bonded.
- No straws, no spitting, no smoking for at least 72 hours.
- No rinsing the first day. Gentle salt rinses after.
- Soft foods on the other side.
- Call if pain gets worse after day two instead of better.
What replaces the tooth
Bone at the site starts shrinking within months. The replacement should be planned before the extraction.
| Option | When |
|---|---|
| Dental implant | Same day, or after two to four months of healing |
| Bridge | After the gum heals, a few weeks |
| Partial denture | Immediate or after healing |
| Nothing | Only for wisdom teeth |
Cost and insurance
Extraction cost depends on whether it's simple or surgical, and whether you choose sedation. PRF is included. You get the cost in writing with the replacement plan.
Most dental plans cover extractions. We file claims on your behalf and offer interest-free CareCredit plans. Financing options
Tooth extractions FAQ
Does a tooth extraction hurt?
A tooth extraction doesn't hurt during the procedure. You feel pressure with the area numbed, and sedation is available. Soreness for a few days afterward is normal.
How long does it take to heal from an extraction?
The gum heals over in two to four weeks. Bone fills the socket over two to four months. Most people are back to normal eating within a week.
What is PRF and why do you use it?
PRF is a healing clot made from your own blood. Studies show it reduces pain, swelling, and dry socket after extractions. We place it in every socket.
Can I get an implant the same day as an extraction?
An implant can often be placed the same day as an extraction when the site has enough bone and no active infection. The 3D scan tells us.
Do you remove wisdom teeth?
We remove erupted wisdom teeth in our office. Impacted wisdom teeth go to an oral surgeon, and we coordinate the referral.
Can I drive myself home?
You can drive after an extraction with local numbing alone. With oral sedation you need a driver. With nitrous oxide, we'll tell you at the visit.
Where can I get a tooth pulled near me in the Duluth area?
Mount Royal Dental does tooth extractions with PRF socket healing at our office on Woodland Avenue in Duluth, MN. Patients come from Hermantown, Superior, Two Harbors, and Cloquet. Call (218) 464-5222.
Extractions on Woodland Avenue
Mount Royal Dental sits at 1624 Woodland Avenue, Duluth, MN 55803, at the corner of Woodland and St. Marie, next to the Mount Royal Shopping Center near UMD.
Monday 8 to 3, Tuesday through Thursday 8 to 4:30, Friday closed. Call (218) 464-5222.
