Removing a Tooth, Comfortably and Cleanly - Tooth Extractions in Everett, WA
Some extractions are simple, and a lot are surgical. We’ll tell you which yours is before we start, and you are numb before anything begins. Below is what actually happens on the day, what the first week looks like, and when a tooth is worth saving instead.
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Why Patients Choose Us
Extractions Done by Our Own Team
Most extractions here are done by our periodontist, Dr. Betsy Mosquera, and some by our general dentists, depending on the case. It all happens in the same practice, so for most extractions there’s no referral across town and no repeating your history to someone new.
- Most extractions done here, without a referral out
- Your records, x-rays and history already in the building
- A periodontist in the practice, who does most of our extractions
- Replacement options discussed with the same team, not a stranger
Who Treats You
Done Here, in the Practice You Know
Most extractions here are done by our periodontist, Dr. Betsy Mosquera. Some are done by our general dentists, decided case by case, and the most complex cases, such as deeply impacted wisdom teeth, are referred to an oral surgeon.
Straight Talk
We Would Rather Save the Tooth
Extraction is the last option, not the first. A tooth that can still be held together with a filling or a crown is usually worth keeping, and we will tell you so. When a tooth genuinely cannot be saved, leaving it in place causes more trouble than taking it out.
When It Is Needed
When a Tooth Has to Come Out
Extraction becomes the right answer when a tooth is too damaged, too infected or too badly positioned to keep. Sometimes it is not about the tooth at all, and space is the reason.
- Decay or infection past the point a filling or crown can hold
- A tooth broken at or below the gum line
- Advanced gum disease that has loosened the tooth in its socket
- Crowding, where a tooth comes out to make room for orthodontic treatment
- Baby teeth that have not come out on their own and are blocking the adult tooth
- Wisdom teeth that are impacted or keep getting infected
If you are not sure which of these applies to you, an exam and an x-ray answer it in one visit.
Types
Simple, Surgical and Wisdom Teeth
Extractions fall into three groups, and which one you need is decided by what the tooth looks like below the gum rather than how it looks in the mirror.
- Simple - the tooth is through and can be gripped
- Surgical - the tooth is broken, buried or awkwardly rooted
- Wisdom tooth removal - a third molar with nowhere to sit
Simple
Simple Extractions
The tooth is fully through and can be gripped. We loosen it in the socket and lift it out. Local anesthetic only, and a simple extraction is usually quick.
Surgical
Surgical Extractions
The tooth is broken, still partly under the gum, or has roots that will not come out in one piece. A small incision gives access, the tooth may come out in sections, and the site is closed with stitches. Still local anesthetic, and still a single appointment. A lot of the extractions we do are surgical rather than simple, and we’ll tell you which yours is before we start.
Wisdom Teeth
When a Wisdom Tooth Needs to Go
Third molars arrive late and often have nowhere to sit. Some cause no trouble at all and are best left alone. Others are worth removing before they turn into a problem you cannot ignore.
- Pain or pressure at the back of the jaw
- Swelling or tenderness in the gum over the tooth
- Jaw stiffness, or trouble opening fully
- Repeated infection around a partly erupted tooth
- A wisdom tooth pushing into the one in front of it
Not every wisdom tooth needs removing. If yours is through, sitting in the right place and you can clean it, we will leave it alone.
Being Straight With You
What We Do Here and What We Refer
We remove many wisdom teeth in this office. Some cases, particularly deeply impacted teeth sitting close to the nerve, belong with an oral surgeon, and we will say so plainly rather than starting something that should have gone elsewhere.
On the Day
What Actually Happens
Before. We look at the x-ray, talk through what we are doing and answer whatever you want to ask. Tell us if you are anxious. It changes how we pace the appointment.
Numbing. Local anesthetic goes in first and we wait for it to take properly. You should feel pressure and movement, not pain. If anything feels sharp, say so and we add more.
The extraction. A few minutes for a simple tooth, longer for a surgical one. There is pressure, and there is noise. That part surprises people more than the sensation does.
After. Gauze on the site, a few minutes of firm pressure, and written aftercare in your hand before you leave.
Recovery
What the First Week Looks Like
Simple extractions settle in a few days. Surgical and wisdom tooth sites take up to a week, sometimes a little longer. The first 24 hours matter most, because that is when the clot forms.
The first 24 hours
- Keep the gauze in place with firm pressure for as long as we tell you
- No rinsing, spitting or drinking through a straw, all of which disturb the clot
- Soft, cool food. Nothing hot
- No smoking
- Rest, and keep your head raised when you lie down
Days two to seven. Gentle salt water rinses from the day after. Chew on the other side. Keep brushing the rest of your mouth normally and go carefully around the site. Swelling usually peaks around day two and then settles. If pain is getting worse after day three rather than better, call us.
Stitches
Simple extractions usually do not need them. Surgical and wisdom tooth extractions often do, and we use dissolving sutures where we can so there is no second trip to have them taken out.
When to call us
Pain getting worse after day three, bleeding that has not settled, swelling that keeps growing, or a bad taste along with pain at the socket. Any of those is worth a phone call rather than waiting it out.
Comfort
If You Are Nervous About It
Plenty of people are, and it helps to say so when you book rather than on the day. Local anesthetic takes care of the pain. What it does not take care of is the anxiety of sitting in the chair, and there are options for that. Ask us what would suit you, or read more about sedation dentistry.
Cost & Payment
What Does a Tooth Extraction Cost?
There is no single price. A simple extraction and a surgical wisdom tooth are different pieces of work, and what you pay depends on which one you need, how many teeth are involved and what your plan covers. You get a figure before we start, not after.
Does insurance cover an extraction?
Usually a good part of it. Extractions are treated as necessary treatment rather than cosmetic on most plans. We check your benefits and tell you what the balance would be before you commit to anything.
Please note: We do not accept DSHS, Apple Care, Apple Health, or Provider One dental insurance plans.
Paying the balance
For anything not covered, we offer CareCredit and can talk the options through with you.
Want a figure before you decide?
Call the office. We will talk you through what your plan is likely to cover and what would be left to pay.
Your Dentists
Meet Our General Dentists
Our general dentists do some extractions, decided case by case. Most are done by our periodontist, Dr. Betsy Mosquera, and the most complex cases are referred to an oral surgeon.
General & Cosmetic Dentist
Dr. Nadia Aboulhosn provides gentle, personalized dental care with a focus on patient comfort and long-term oral health. Originally from Brazil, she earned her Doctorate of Dental Surgery from the University of Washington in 2009.
She is fluent in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Arabic, and is known for her warm approach, clear communication, and strong community connection.
General & Cosmetic Dentist
Raised in Mukilteo and a proud graduate of the UW School of Dentistry (Top 10 of her class), Dr. Valentine is passionate about blending modern techniques with patient-centered care. She speaks Cantonese fluently and focuses on delivering high-quality, comfortable dental experiences for patients of all ages.
General & Cosmetic Dentist
Dr. Kwok earned her Doctorate of Dental Surgery from the University of Washington and returned to her hometown after eight years practicing in Milwaukee. She is fluent in English and Cantonese, and is certified in cosmetic dentistry. From routine check-ups to more complex treatment, she is known for a warm, unhurried approach that puts patients at ease.
Want to meet the team in person?
Visit our Everett dental office – we love meeting new patients and
families. You can also meet our support team, the people who will greet you at the door and help with scheduling and insurance.
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Location
Visit Our Everett Dental Office
Ready to book? Whether you need a tooth looked at or you already know it has to come out, our team is here to help. Call the office or book online and we will find you a time.
Icon Dental Center – Everett
Address:
1820 100th Pl SE Suite B, Everett, WA 98208, United States
Phone:
(425) 337-2400
Hours:
Mon, Tues, Thu: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wed 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sat, Sun & Fri: Closed
Faq's
Frequently Asked Questions
You feel pressure and movement, not pain. Local anesthetic goes in first and we wait for it to take properly before starting. If anything feels sharp at any point, tell us and we add more. Soreness afterwards is normal and manageable.
A few days for a simple extraction. Up to a week, sometimes a little longer, for a surgical or wisdom tooth site. Swelling usually peaks around day two and then settles. Pain that is getting worse after day three is worth a phone call.
Simple extractions usually do not. Surgical and wisdom tooth extractions often do, and we use dissolving sutures where we can so there is no second trip to have them removed.
Pain or pressure at the back of the jaw, swelling over the tooth, jaw stiffness, or repeated infection around a tooth that is only partly through. An x-ray settles it. If a wisdom tooth is through, well positioned and you can clean it, it can stay.
After an extraction under local anesthetic, yes. Your lip and cheek will be numb for a few hours but you are otherwise unaffected. If you are having any form of sedation, that is different and you will need someone to drive you.
Depends on where it is and what is next to it. An implant, a bridge or a partial denture are the usual routes, and a back tooth that nothing bites against sometimes needs nothing at all. We talk it through before the extraction, not after, so you know what the plan is.
Last updated: September 2026