Some teeth can't simply be lifted out — they're broken at the gumline, fractured at the root, locked in bone, or stubbornly impacted. A surgical extraction is the careful, planned approach for exactly these cases. At Kentfield Dental, our boutique practice on Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Dr. Soroush Ghaffarpour ("Dr. G") performs surgical extractions right here in our Kentfield office, so patients across Marin — from Greenbrae and Larkspur to San Anselmo and Mill Valley — rarely need a referral out to a separate oral surgeon. We pair detailed 3D planning with a conservative, comfort-first touch, and when it makes sense, we can preserve the bone in the same visit to help keep your options open for a future implant.
What is a surgical tooth extraction?
A surgical extraction is the removal of a tooth that can't be taken out with a straightforward "grasp and lift." It often becomes necessary when a tooth is broken off at or below the gumline, severely decayed, cracked through the root, has curved or fused roots, or is impacted — stuck partly or fully beneath the gum and bone, the way wisdom teeth often are. Rather than forcing the tooth, we gently create access — sometimes lifting a small flap of gum tissue or carefully sectioning the tooth into pieces — so it can come out with minimal stress on the surrounding bone and gums.
The word "surgical" sounds bigger than the experience usually is. For a difficult tooth, a surgical approach is often the more conservative choice: by mapping the path out in advance and working in small, controlled steps, we aim to protect the bone, gum and neighboring teeth that a rushed removal could damage. Many surgical extractions at our Kentfield office are completed in a single, calm appointment under local anesthetic, often with bone grafting placed in the same visit to help set up a strong foundation for whatever you choose next.
How we do it at Kentfield Dental
Difficult extractions reward planning, and that's where our in-house technology earns its keep. Before we touch a tooth, we capture a low-dose 3D scan on our Vatech Green X12 CBCT so Dr. G can see the root shape and how the tooth sits relative to your sinuses, the nerve in the lower jaw, and the surrounding bone. That picture turns a guess into a plan — fewer surprises, a gentler removal, and a clear read on whether bone grafting will help. Because the surgery, the imaging and the implant planning all happen under one roof in Kentfield, most Marin patients can be cared for start to finish by the same team, with no separate referral across the county. And because Dr. G is Spanish-speaking, we can guide you through every step in Spanish or English.
- Low-dose Vatech Green X12 CBCT 3D imaging to map roots, nerves and sinuses before any incision
- Surgical extractions performed in-house by Dr. G — broken, fractured and impacted teeth, with no referral out for most cases
- Socket-preservation bone grafting available in the same visit to help protect the ridge for a future implant
- Soft-tissue dental laser and 3Shape digital scanning to support clean healing and precise follow-up restorations
- Formlabs in-house 3D printing for surgical guides and same-day temporaries when your treatment calls for them
Why patients choose us for this
Everything in one Kentfield office
Broken, impacted and fractured teeth are removed in-house by Dr. G, so most Marin patients can skip the referral to a separate oral surgeon and stay with a team they already trust.
3D-planned, not guesswork
Low-dose CBCT imaging shows root shape, nerve position and sinus proximity before we begin, which can support a gentler, more predictable removal.
Bone protected for the future
When appropriate, we can place socket-preservation grafting in the same appointment — designed to help maintain the bone volume that a dental implant may later need.
Built for anxious patients
A calm, conservative pace, thorough numbing, and comfort and sedation options are designed to help nervous patients get through a procedure they've often been dreading.
A smoother path to replacement
By preserving the socket and planning ahead, we can help keep your options open — bridge, implant, or same-day implant — rather than leaving the site to collapse.
Clear, plain-English guidance
Before anything happens, you'll understand why the tooth needs to come out, what the visit involves, and exactly how to care for the site afterward.
What to expect
Consultation & 3D imaging
Dr. G examines the tooth and reviews a low-dose CBCT scan to map the roots, nerves and sinuses. You'll get a clear, plain-English explanation of why the tooth needs to come out and what the visit will involve.
Comfort & numbing
We thoroughly numb the area with local anesthetic and discuss comfort and sedation options so you feel settled before we begin. We work at a calm, unhurried pace throughout, in Spanish or English.
Gentle surgical removal
We create careful access and, when needed, section the tooth so it can be removed in pieces with minimal stress on the surrounding bone and gums — a more conservative result than forcing a stubborn tooth out whole.
Socket preservation (when appropriate)
If you may want an implant or bridge later, we often place bone grafting material in the empty socket the same day, designed to help maintain the ridge and protect your future options.
Aftercare & follow-up
We send you home with clear written instructions and a plan for healing. We stay in touch to check the site and, when you're ready, walk through replacement options like a dental implant.
Your comfort matters. Surgical extractions are done under local anesthetic, with comfort and sedation options available for anxious patients. Dr. G works at a calm, unhurried pace, and Marin patients can be cared for in Spanish or English throughout.
Is a surgical extraction right for you?
Not every tooth needs a surgical approach — many come out simply. But when a tooth is broken down, impacted, or fractured below the gum, a planned surgical extraction is often the safest, most comfortable route. The only way to know for certain is an exam and, often, a quick low-dose 3D scan. If you're weighing a difficult removal anywhere in Marin, a consultation in our Kentfield office can tell you what's actually involved and what your replacement options are.
- A tooth is broken off at or below the gumline and can't be grasped normally
- You have an impacted or partially erupted tooth (including some wisdom teeth)
- A tooth is cracked through the root or has curved, fused, or extra roots
- A previous filling, crown or root canal has failed and the tooth can't be saved
- You want the option of an implant later and need the bone preserved now
- You're an anxious patient who wants a calm, comfort-focused team to handle it
Frequently asked questions
The procedure itself is done under local anesthetic, so the area is fully numb and most patients feel pressure rather than pain. Comfort and sedation options are available for anxious patients, and we'll give you clear guidance to help manage tenderness as the site heals over the following days.
A simple extraction removes a tooth that's fully visible and can be loosened and lifted out, while a surgical extraction is for teeth that are broken at the gumline, impacted, or have difficult roots. In a surgical case, Dr. G gently creates access — and sometimes sections the tooth — to remove it while protecting the surrounding bone.
For most cases, no — Dr. G performs surgical extractions in-house at our Kentfield office, so Marin patients usually stay with the same team. We'll always tell you honestly if a particular case would be better served by a specialist.
Socket preservation is bone grafting placed in the empty tooth socket right after extraction to help maintain bone volume. It's often recommended when you may want a dental implant or bridge later, since it's designed to help keep the ridge from collapsing and support a stronger result down the road.
The gum surface typically feels much better within a week or so, while the bone underneath continues to fill in over the following weeks and months. We'll give you written aftercare instructions and check the site at follow-up to help confirm healing is on track before planning any replacement.
Yes, and planning ahead can make it easier. When we preserve the socket with bone grafting at the time of removal, we help protect the foundation an implant needs — and because we offer implants and even same-day implants in our Kentfield office, we can map the whole journey from the start.
Cost depends on the tooth, its complexity, and whether bone grafting is included, so we provide a clear estimate after your exam and 3D scan. As a fee-for-service practice, we're transparent about fees and will help you understand and submit any out-of-network insurance benefits you have.