Tooth Extraction in Las Vegas, NV

Most teeth can be saved. When one cannot, the question stops being whether it comes out and becomes who takes it out, what it will cost, and what goes in its place.

Nevada Oral & Facial Surgery has removed teeth in the Las Vegas valley since 1999. We are oral and maxillofacial surgeons, which means extraction is not something we fit between cleanings. It is the procedure we trained for.

When a tooth needs to come out

Your dentist will try to save a tooth first. An extraction is usually the answer when:

• Decay has reached the point where a filling or crown will not hold
• The tooth is fractured below the gumline
• Infection has spread into the bone and a root canal has already failed, or will not work
• The tooth is impacted and cannot come in
• There is not enough room in the jaw, often before orthodontic treatment
• Gum disease has loosened the tooth past the point of stabilizing it

Here for wisdom teeth? Those are a different procedure with their own risks and recovery. See wisdom teeth removal.

What a tooth extraction costs in Las Vegas

We won't guess, but we'll find out your real number with you.

Start with a free virtual consultation. Our treatment coordinator will check what your insurance does and does not cover, and one of our surgeons will review your x-rays and health history. You will know where you stand before you come in, and you leave your in-office visit with a written treatment plan and a real figure. Financing options are available if you need to spread the cost.

We do not publish a single price because these change the cost substantially:

• Simple or surgical. A tooth that is intact and above the gumline is a different procedure from one that is broken, impacted, or has to be sectioned to come out safely
• Which tooth. Molars have more roots and sit closer to the sinus and the nerve
• Sedation. Local anesthetic only, or IV sedation
• Bone grafting. If you plan to replace the tooth with an implant, preserving the socket at the time of extraction usually saves a second procedure later
• Your insurance. Medical and dental plans treat surgical extraction differently, and a surgical extraction is sometimes covered where a simple one is not

Simple extraction or surgical extraction

Simple. The tooth is visible and intact. It is loosened and lifted out. Usually local anesthetic, usually quick.

Surgical. The tooth is broken at the gumline, impacted, badly decayed, or has curved roots. It may need a small incision, and the tooth may be removed in sections. This is the case general dental offices most often refer out, and it is routine work for us.

The surgeon determines whether an extraction is simple or surgical after examining the tooth and reviewing the appropriate imaging. Plenty of teeth that look simple are not.

Why see an oral surgeon for an extraction

Any licensed dentist can remove a straightforward tooth. The reason to see a surgeon is the cases that are not straightforward:

• A tooth already broken, or one a previous attempt failed to remove
• Roots sitting against the sinus or the inferior alveolar nerve
• Several teeth at once, or a full clearance
• Patients on blood thinners, bisphosphonates, or managing diabetes or heart conditions
• Anyone who needs IV sedation rather than local anesthetic

Our surgeons are board certified in oral and maxillofacial surgery. Dr. Johnson is dual board certified in oral and maxillofacial surgery and anesthesia. IV sedation is administered by the surgical team and is included rather than charged as a separate add-on.

Sedation, so you are comfortable

You should not feel pain. You may feel some pressure or movement, and that is normal. How far beyond that you want to go is your choice, from local anesthetic to nitrous oxide to full IV sedation.

If dental anxiety is the reason you have put this off, say so when you book. It changes what we recommend.

See all sedation and anesthesia options

What happens on the day

1. 3D scan and review. We look at root shape, bone, and how close the tooth sits to the nerve and sinus before anything starts.
2. Anesthetic or sedation, whichever you chose.
3. The extraction. Simple teeth lift out. Surgical cases may involve a small incision and removing the tooth in sections.
4. Socket care. If you are replacing the tooth, this is where a bone graft goes, while the site is already open.
5. Instructions and a follow-up, in writing, before you leave.

Healing, and what to expect

Swelling peaks around day two and settles from there. Most people are back to normal activity within a few days, longer for surgical cases.

Detailed aftercare, written by our surgeons:

• What to eat after an extraction
• When you can smoke after a tooth extraction
• Why exercise is off limits straight after oral surgery
• Recovering smoothly after oral surgery

Call us if bleeding has not settled after a few hours, if pain gets worse rather than better after day three, or if you develop a fever.

Replacing the tooth

A gap is not only cosmetic. The bone that held the root starts to shrink once the tooth is gone, and the teeth on either side can shift over time.

If you already know you want to replace it, say so before the extraction. Grafting the socket at the same appointment can help preserve the bone in the area and may reduce the need for additional grafting later. See dental implants.

Common questions

How much does it cost to pull a tooth in Las Vegas?
It depends on whether the extraction is simple or surgical, which tooth it is, what sedation you choose, and whether you are grafting the socket. Start with a free virtual consultation. We check your insurance and review your x-rays, so you know where you stand before you come in, and you leave your visit with a written figure rather than an estimate.

Does insurance cover a tooth extraction?
Often, partly, and surgical extractions are sometimes covered under medical rather than dental benefits. Our treatment coordinator checks what your plan does and does not cover on the free virtual consultation, before you commit to anything.

What if I cannot afford it right now?
If cost is a concern, tell us. Financing options are available and we can go through them with you before treatment.

Does it hurt?
You should not feel pain during the procedure. You will be numb, sedated, or both, and you may still notice pressure or movement. Afterwards is usually soreness rather than pain, and you will leave with a plan for managing it.

How long does recovery take?
A few days of taking it easy for a simple extraction. Longer for a surgical one. Soft tissue closes over in a week or two, bone fills in over a few months.

Can I drive myself home?
If you have IV sedation you will need a responsible adult to drive you home. With local anesthetic only, ask your surgeon whether you are okay to drive yourself.

Three locations across the valley

Las Vegas, Henderson and Summerlin.