Tooth Removal · Extractions

When a tooth can't be saved, we say so gently.

We look for every reasonable way to keep a tooth before we talk about removing it. When one truly can't be rebuilt, we tell you, and we tell you why.

Two smiling adults standing together in the reception area of the office, each making a peace sign.

In our reception area.

Saving the tooth comes first

Removing a tooth is the last option here, and it gets the same care as everything else we do.

Second opinions welcome

If another office has told you a tooth has to go, bring it to us in Fairfield for a second look. Sometimes laser gum therapy or a restorative repair can still keep it.

When extraction is the right answer

Some teeth are too broken or too diseased to rebuild, and keeping them does more harm than good. When that's the case, we show you what we see, explain the reasoning, and give you time to decide.

The next step comes first

We plan the extraction around what follows it: an implant, a bridge, or nothing yet. Those options are on the table before the tooth comes out, so nothing is decided by default.

If you're nervous

Feeling uneasy about having a tooth out is common. Dr. Oh offers nitrous oxide (“laughing gas”) in the office to help you relax; it's billed like any other treatment and may be covered by insurance. For deeper sedation, we work with licensed dental anesthesiologists who hold the New Jersey permit for it. See our Nervous Patients page.

When we refer you out

Dr. Oh is a general dentist. Some cases (complex impactions, for example) belong with an oral surgeon, and when that's true we refer you to one we trust.

Your visit, step by step

A careful decision, then a careful procedure.

STEP 01

Look at it together

We examine the tooth and show you what we see on the screen.

STEP 02

Plan what comes next

Before the tooth comes out, we decide together what comes next: an implant, a bridge, or nothing for now. If you need a specialist, we set up the referral.

STEP 03

An unhurried removal

The area is numbed thoroughly and checked before we begin. We work gently, tell you what to expect, and take our time.

STEP 04

Heal, then follow through

You leave with written aftercare instructions and a direct line to us. We revisit the next-step plan when you're ready.

Why Dr. Oh

Hospital residency training

After dental school, Dr. Oh completed a one-year general practice residency at Hackensack University Medical Center. He's a general dentist. He examines you himself, and if your case belongs with an oral surgeon, he tells you so and sets up the referral.

More about Dr. Oh's training

Wondering about cost? See Insurance Questions and Financing.

New here? See what happens at your first visit.

Start with a conversation about the tooth.

Call (973) 808-4373. Tell us what's going on, and we'll find a time to take a look.

Call (973) 808-4373 Meet Dr. Oh

Common questions

Do you try to save the tooth first?
Yes, whenever a tooth can reasonably be kept. Laser gum therapy and restorative repairs come first; we recommend extraction only once saving the tooth is no longer realistic.
Does getting a tooth pulled hurt?
You should feel pressure, not sharp pain. We numb thoroughly and check in with you throughout.
What should I do afterward?
Rest, protect the area, and follow the written instructions we send home with you. Every mouth heals on its own schedule, and we're a phone call away if anything feels off.
Do I have to replace the tooth?
It depends on the tooth and your bite; some gaps matter more than others. We lay out the options, with no pressure either way.