Deciding to have a tooth extraction is rarely easy. At Dr Haim Aseriel's dental clinic in Jerusalem, extractions are done under local anesthesia, at a pace adapted to each patient, and the team follows you from diagnosis to full healing. The approach is conservative: the natural tooth is kept whenever possible, and extraction is recommended only when there is no other reasonable option.
Consultations are held in English, and you leave with a written treatment plan. The clinic is at 12 HaTnufa Street in Talpiot, south Jerusalem.
What is a surgical tooth extraction? Diagnosis before the extraction
A tooth extraction is a surgical procedure in which a whole tooth is removed from the bone and gums.
It is done when the tooth cannot be saved by other means, such as root canal treatment or a dental crown. There are two main types: a simple extraction, done under local anesthesia when the tooth is visible above the gum line, and a surgical extraction, which is more complex.
Every extraction starts with a full assessment: X-rays, a clinical examination of the tooth and the surrounding area, and questions about your medical history and the medications you take. The aim is to identify possible risk factors and plan the procedure carefully. Before the extraction, do not stop blood thinners (anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications) on your own: according to the American Dental Association (ADA), in most cases they do not need to be stopped, because the risk of stopping them is higher than the risk of bleeding, and the decision is made with your treating doctor (see bleeding after a tooth extraction). In more complex cases, such as an impacted wisdom tooth or a broken tooth, the procedure requires an incision in the gum and the removal of some of the surrounding bone.
You will find a lot of information online about tooth extraction cost, but the price really depends on how complex the case is, where the tooth is and whether additional procedures are needed. That is why the clinic gives a personalized treatment plan and a written quote after the first examination.
When does a tooth need to be extracted?
A tooth extraction is a last resort, once every option for saving the tooth has been considered.
Extensive tooth decay
Decay that reaches deep into the pulp and roots, when effective root canal treatment is not possible, is one of the most common reasons for extraction (see tooth decay).
Gum disease and broken teeth
Advanced gum disease (periodontitis) gradually destroys the tissues that support the tooth, bone and gums included, until the tooth becomes loose. Teeth broken at or below the gum line that cannot be restored effectively may also need to be extracted.
Wisdom teeth and orthodontic treatment
Impacted or partially erupted wisdom teeth are a common reason for extraction, especially when they cause pain, repeated infections or damage to neighboring teeth. Complex cases are treated by a certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon who treats patients at the clinic. Healthy teeth are sometimes removed as part of an orthodontic plan, when severe crowding leaves no room to straighten the teeth.
How is a surgical tooth extraction done?
A tooth extraction starts with careful preparation, then follows three main steps.
X-rays and local anesthesia
X-rays first show the exact condition of the tooth and the shape of its roots. The area is then numbed with local anesthesia so that the extraction can be done comfortably. Dedicated instruments allow precise work while limiting trauma to the surrounding tissues.
Removing the tooth
In a simple extraction, the dentist loosens the tooth with an elevator and removes it with forceps using gentle movements. In a surgical extraction, the procedure may include an incision in the gum, removal of some of the surrounding bone and sometimes dividing the tooth into sections. The socket is then cleaned, and in some cases a bone graft material is placed to preserve the bone for a future dental implant.
Sterile gauze and aftercare instructions
A sterile gauze pad is placed over the socket and you are asked to bite on it to stop the bleeding. Aftercare for the following days is detailed below.
Simple extraction vs surgical extraction
| Criterion | Simple extraction | Surgical extraction |
|---|---|---|
| Condition of the tooth | Visible above the gum line | Impacted tooth, or tooth broken at or below the gum line |
| Anesthesia | Local anesthesia | Local anesthesia of the area |
| Procedure | Elevator to loosen the tooth, forceps to remove it with gentle movements | Incision in the gum, removal of some surrounding bone, sometimes dividing the tooth into sections |
Particularly complex extractions, such as impacted wisdom teeth or teeth with strongly curved roots, are performed at the clinic together with Dr Yves Weinberg, head of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Barzilai Medical Center.
Possible side effects after a tooth extraction
After a tooth extraction, many patients experience a few common side effects that are a normal part of healing. Pain is the most common symptom and usually starts when the anesthesia wears off; pain and swelling usually ease within the first few days.
After wisdom teeth removal, side effects can be stronger and last longer because the surgery is more complex. Some patients also have trismus, a limited mouth opening caused by tight jaw muscles, which can last a few days.
A less common but more troublesome complication is a dry socket (alveolar osteitis): the blood clot in the socket is washed away or breaks down too early, exposing the bone and nerve endings to air and food. It causes increasing pain that usually starts one to three days after the extraction and needs to be treated by your dentist. It affects a small minority of routine extractions (up to about 7%) and is more common after surgical removal of an impacted wisdom tooth (Daly et al., Cochrane, 2022). An infection of the extraction site can also develop, although the risk is relatively low when the hygiene instructions are followed carefully.
Examination, treatment plan and price quote
detailed and personalized
During the consultation, Dr Haim Aseriel examines your teeth, explains all the options and gives you a transparent price quote, with no obligation. The clinic is at 12 HaTnufa Street, Jerusalem.
Tooth extraction aftercare: the first days
The blood clot that forms in the socket is essential for normal healing, so avoid anything that could disturb it or dislodge it. The essentials:
- Bleeding: bite on the gauze pad with steady pressure, as your dentist tells you. Light bleeding and pink-stained saliva in the first hours are normal; if the bleeding is heavy, does not stop with steady pressure on gauze, or significant bleeding starts again several hours later, contact the clinic.
- Protect the clot: in the first days, do not rinse forcefully, spit or drink through a straw (no straw for at least 24 hours), and avoid strenuous exercise. According to MedlinePlus, gentle rinsing and spitting can usually resume about three days after the extraction; salt water only if your dentist recommends it. Brush gently, away from the extraction site.
- Eating: wait until the numbness has worn off, then choose cool or lukewarm soft food, without very hot, spicy or crunchy food and without alcohol in the first days. Details: what to eat after a tooth extraction.
- Swelling and pain: ice wrapped in a towel on the cheek, 10 to 20 minutes at a time, and your head raised for the first nights. Ask your dentist or pharmacist which pain reliever to take and at what dose; according to the ADA guideline, for most adults without contraindications, non-opioid pain relievers such as NSAIDs are usually the first choice for acute dental pain (Carrasco-Labra et al., JADA, 2024).
13.2%
dry socket rate in smokers, vs about 3.8% in non-smokers (systematic review, 2022)
Smoking roughly triples the risk of dry socket, so it is best not to smoke after the extraction, at least for the first few days and as your dentist advises. Details: smoking after a tooth extraction.
Tooth extraction healing: warning signs
Call the clinic right away if you have:
- severe pain that does not respond to pain relievers
- prolonged bleeding
- increasing swelling
- a fever
- an unpleasant smell or taste
A high fever, swelling that spreads toward the eye or the neck, or difficulty swallowing or breathing require immediate care in a hospital emergency room.
Antibiotics are not given routinely after an extraction: they are considered case by case, by prescription only, and must be taken exactly as instructed. Follow-up is part of the treatment, and you can contact the clinic with any question.
Emergency tooth extraction
Severe toothache, a broken tooth or a painful swelling sometimes call for an emergency tooth extraction, although the first step is always to check whether the tooth can be saved. Call the clinic at 03-912-1879: urgent cases are seen the same day during opening hours (Sun 8:00–19:00 · Mon 9:00–19:00 · Tue–Wed 9:00–21:00 · Thu 8:30–21:00 · Fri 8:00–14:00). The clinic does not see patients on Saturdays or at night; outside these hours, contact an urgent care center or an emergency room; see also emergency dentist in Jerusalem.
What replaces the extracted tooth?
It is worth planning how to fill the gap before the extraction, especially for a back tooth: a dental implant, a bridge or a partial denture, sometimes with a temporary solution until the permanent restoration. The options for a molar, and when to start, are explained on the molar extraction page.
Tooth extraction cost: what affects the price?
The cost of a surgical extraction depends on several factors that vary with the complexity of each case. The price reflects the difficulty of the procedure, the imaging and materials needed and the time required. Impacted wisdom teeth or teeth broken deep below the gum line need more complex techniques and a longer appointment, which directly affects the total cost.
A surgical extraction usually requires an X-ray beforehand, sometimes a panoramic dental X-ray, depending on the case. It shows the condition of the tooth and is the basis for assessing how complex the extraction will be. In some cases, 3D imaging (CBCT), taken at the clinic, is needed to locate the roots and nearby anatomical structures precisely.
Some cases call for additional measures during healing, which also affect the final cost. When indicated, PRF (platelet-rich fibrin) is used at the clinic: a material prepared from the patient's own blood in the clinic's centrifuge and placed in the socket to support healing; its benefit varies from case to case.
The clinic does not publish a price list: after examining your case, you receive a detailed written quote covering every stage, from diagnosis and planning to the extraction itself and follow-up during healing. You also receive itemized receipts that you can submit to your insurer if you plan to request reimbursement; coverage depends on your policy, so check with your insurer before treatment.
Tooth extraction in Jerusalem: consultation with Dr Haim Aseriel
Every patient who needs a surgical extraction receives a personal, careful approach. In complex cases, the extraction is done together with a certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon who treats patients at the clinic, so that recovery is as comfortable as possible. Dr Haim Aseriel, a US-trained dentist (DDS, NYU College of Dentistry), explains the options in English, from diagnosis to follow-up after the extraction.
At the first visit, your whole mouth is examined, including temporary replacement options such as a dental flipper when needed, and you receive a treatment plan that takes your medical history and aesthetic needs into account. To book, call the clinic or use the contact form; you can also read patient reviews or more about Dr Haim Aseriel.
Tooth extraction: frequently asked questions
A surgical tooth extraction is the removal of a tooth that cannot be taken out with a simple extraction, such as an impacted tooth or a tooth broken below the gum line. The procedure involves a small incision in the gum, sometimes removing a little of the surrounding bone or dividing the tooth into sections, and it is usually done under local anesthesia.
A tooth extraction is a last resort, once the options for saving the tooth have been exhausted. Common reasons include extensive decay that reaches deep into the pulp and roots when effective root canal treatment is not possible, advanced gum disease, a tooth broken below the gum line, and impacted or partially erupted wisdom teeth that cause pain, repeated infections or damage to neighboring teeth.
After a tooth extraction, pain and swelling usually ease within the first few days. The extraction site (the soft tissue) usually heals within one to two weeks, while the bone continues to rebuild for longer. Pain that gets worse instead of better, severe swelling or a fever are reasons to contact your dentist.
A dry socket (alveolar osteitis) is a painful complication that occurs when the blood clot in the extraction socket breaks down or is dislodged too early, exposing the bone. It causes increasing pain that usually starts one to three days after the extraction and needs to be treated by your dentist. It affects a small minority of routine extractions (up to about 7%) and is more common after surgical removal of an impacted wisdom tooth.
The cost of a tooth extraction depends on how complex the case is: the position of the tooth, whether it is impacted, the condition of the roots, the imaging needed and any additional procedure, such as preserving the bone for a future implant. A detailed written quote is given after an examination and X-ray.
Sources
- MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine), Tooth extraction, 2024 – View source
- American Dental Association (MouthHealthy), Extractions – View source
- Daly BJ et al., Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2022 – View source
- Kuśnierek W et al., Dentistry Journal, 2022 – View source
- Carrasco-Labra A et al., Journal of the American Dental Association, 2024 – View source
- American Dental Association, Oral Anticoagulant and Antiplatelet Medications and Dental Procedures, 2022 – View source
