A dental extraction is the removal of a tooth from the mouth. Depending on the patient, an extraction can be done very quickly, or can be very complicated.

Simple extractions are the easiest to perform because they are done on the teeth that are visible in the mouth. First an elevator is used to loosen and lift the tooth from the socket, then forceps are used to break the ligaments holding the tooth in place by rocking back and forth. At which point the tooth has been loosened enough to be pulled out.

Surgical extractions involve the removal of teeth that cannot be easily accessed, either because they have broken under the gum line or because they have not erupted fully. In a surgical extraction the soft tissues covering the tooth and bone may be removed to get access to the tooth. Once all the tooth is fully removed, the gums are stitched up and left to heal for one to two weeks. Frequently, the tooth may be split into multiple pieces to facilitate its removal.