CJ Henley, DMD, PA / San Marco, Jacksonville, Florida
Tooth extractions in Jacksonville, FL.
We look at saving it first, and your health history before anything else.
We remove teeth at our San Marco office in Jacksonville when taking the tooth out is the right call, including some wisdom teeth. Dr. Henley does the exam, explains whether the tooth can be saved, reviews your medications and medical history, and does the extraction himself. Complex cases go to an oral surgeon we trust.
- 1 dentistDr. Henley examines you, explains the options, and removes the tooth himself
- 3×the odds of dry socket in people who smoke3
- 29–63%of ridge width can shrink in the first 6 months after an extraction6
- 2 weeksof healing, ideally, between an extraction and the start of head and neck radiation2
Top-rated on Google: 4.9 stars from more than 225 patient reviews.
When an extraction makes sense
Remove the tooth, or try to save it?
A tooth is worth saving when it can be restored predictably and the gum and bone can support it. Removal makes sense when a tooth is cracked below the gumline, too broken down to rebuild, badly loosened by gum disease, or when saving it would cost more than it is likely to give back.
Sometimes pulling a painful or broken tooth is the right answer. Sometimes a root canal and a crown would keep the tooth for many more years. After a general dentistry exam, we’ll walk you through both paths, with the fee for each in writing.
Reasons we usually recommend removal
- A crack that runs down the root. A vertical root fracture usually can’t be repaired.
- Not enough tooth left. When decay or a break reaches well below the gum, there may be nothing solid to hold a crown.
- Advanced gum disease. Most of the supporting bone is gone and the tooth is loose.
- Wisdom teeth causing trouble. Repeated gum infections around a partly erupted tooth (pericoronitis), decay we can’t reach, or damage to the tooth in front.
Taking a tooth out is quick. Replacing it well takes time and money, so a tooth that keeps your bite stable can be worth real effort. If the decision is close, we’ll say so.
Simple, surgical, and wisdom teeth in Jacksonville
What kind of extraction do you need?
A simple extraction removes a tooth that is fully visible in one piece. A surgical extraction is needed when the tooth is broken at the gumline, has curved or fused roots, or sits partly in bone. We do both in the office when appropriate. Impacted wisdom teeth and roots close to a nerve or sinus go to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.
Simple extraction
The tooth is visible above the gum. After numbing, it is gently loosened and lifted out. You’ll feel pressure, but you shouldn’t feel sharp pain.
Surgical extraction
Sometimes the tooth needs to be divided into pieces, or a small amount of gum or bone needs to be moved to reach the roots. Stitches are often placed, and recovery takes a little longer.
Wisdom teeth we remove here
Wisdom teeth that have come in, or are mostly through the gum with roots well away from the nerve, can often be taken out in our office.
Wisdom teeth we refer
Teeth that are impacted in bone, lower roots that sit near the nerve to the lip and chin, and upper roots that reach the sinus go to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. We send your records.
Medications and medical history
Before we remove anything, we review your health history.
Some medicines and treatments change how the jaw heals after an extraction. Bone medications such as bisphosphonates and denosumab carry a risk of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw. Past head and neck radiation carries a risk of osteoradionecrosis. Blood thinners and GLP-1 medicines need a plan, not a guess.
Please bring a list of everything you take, including injections you get once or twice a year. See also complex and medically involved care.
- Bone-strengthening medicines. Alendronate (Fosamax), zoledronic acid (Reclast, Zometa), and denosumab (Prolia, Xgeva) can rarely lead to areas of exposed jaw bone that don’t heal, called MRONJ. The risk is low for most people taking these for osteoporosis and higher with the doses used for cancer.1 It changes how we plan, not whether you get care. See osteoporosis medications and your dental health.
- Radiation to the head and neck. Radiation can permanently reduce blood supply to the jaw. An extraction in a radiated area carries a risk of osteoradionecrosis (ORN), so we check where and how much radiation you had and coordinate with your oncology team.2 In some cases, the safer move is referral.
- Blood thinners. Please don’t stop warfarin, apixaban (Eliquis), rivaroxaban (Xarelto), clopidogrel (Plavix), or similar medicines on your own. Stopping can raise the risk of stroke or clots. For most routine extractions, bleeding in people who keep taking direct oral anticoagulants has been controlled with local measures at the chair.4 When a change is needed, we talk with the doctor who prescribes it.
- GLP-1 medicines. Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) slow stomach emptying. That matters if you’re having sedation. Current multisociety guidance says most people can keep taking them, with extra precautions for those at higher risk.5 Tell us the drug, the dose, and the day you take it. More on our GLP-1 page.
What to expect
How a tooth extraction visit goes.
Expect an exam and X-ray, a review of your medications, a written fee, and a clear plan for replacing the tooth if you’ll want one. On the day itself, the area is numbed thoroughly first, and you leave with written aftercare instructions.
Exam and imaging
Dr. Henley looks at the tooth, the gum around it, and an X-ray that shows the full root, then tells you whether the extraction belongs here or with an oral surgeon.
The plan, in writing
You’ll hear whether the tooth can be saved, what removing it involves, what you’d replace it with, and the fee for each step before anything begins.
Numbing and comfort
We check that you’re fully numb before we start, and plan any sedation ahead of time.
Removing the tooth
The tooth is loosened and lifted out, or divided and removed in sections. If an implant is planned, a bone graft may be placed in the socket at the same visit.
Tooth extraction recovery
Aftercare, and how to lower your chance of dry socket.
The blood clot in the socket is the start of healing, so the first few days are about protecting it. Don’t smoke, vape, spit hard, or drink through a straw. Eat soft foods, rinse gently after the first day, and keep brushing your other teeth. Pain that gets worse a few days after the extraction should be checked.
The first 24 hours
- Gauze. Bite firmly on gauze for 30 to 60 minutes. Some oozing for the rest of the day is normal.
- Cold. An ice pack on the cheek, 20 minutes on and 20 off, helps with swelling.
- Rest and food. Skip hard exercise for the day. Cool, soft foods, chewing on the other side.
Dry socket
Dry socket (alveolar osteitis) happens when the clot breaks down or is lost before the socket has started to heal. It usually shows up as strong, throbbing pain one to five days after the extraction, often with a bad taste or odor.3 It is more common after lower wisdom teeth and in people who smoke. In a review of eleven studies, about 13% of smokers developed dry socket compared with about 4% of nonsmokers.3
Not smoking or vaping after the extraction is the most useful thing you can do. Dry socket is treatable, usually by cleaning the socket and placing a soothing dressing. Read more on our dry socket page, and keep our home care instructions handy.
When to call us
- Bleeding that won’t slow after firm pressure on fresh gauze (or a damp tea bag) for 30 minutes.
- Pain that gets worse after day two or three instead of better.
- Swelling that keeps growing after day three, fever, pus, or numbness that hasn’t worn off by the next day.
Go to the emergency room or call 911 for trouble breathing or swallowing, swelling that spreads toward the eye or down the neck, or heavy bleeding you can’t control. For anything else urgent, call the office at 904.398.1549. See also emergency dental care.
Healing timeline
How long does a tooth extraction take to heal?
Most people feel noticeably better within a few days. The gum over the socket usually closes over in a few weeks, and the bone underneath keeps filling in and remodeling for several months. Surgical and wisdom tooth extractions take longer.
| When | What’s usually happening | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| First 24 hours | A clot forms. Some oozing and soreness. | Gauze, ice, rest, soft cool foods. No rinsing, spitting, straws, or smoking. |
| Days 2–3 | Swelling and stiffness often peak, then start to ease. | Begin gentle warm salt water rinses. Keep brushing other teeth. |
| Days 3–5 | Pain should be trending down. This is the usual window for dry socket.3 | Call if pain is getting worse instead of better. |
| 1–2 weeks | Gum tissue is closing. Stitches dissolve or are removed. | Return to normal eating as comfort allows. |
| 3–6 months | Bone fills the socket and the ridge reshapes. Most width loss happens early.6 | Plan the replacement. Implants often go in during or after this stage. |
After the extraction
Your options for replacing the tooth.
The main choices are a dental implant, a fixed bridge, a removable partial or full denture, or leaving the space. It helps to decide before the extraction, because the bone starts to shrink in the first few months. When an implant is planned, a bone graft placed in the socket at the time of extraction can help keep the ridge in shape.
| Option | How it works | Things to weigh |
|---|---|---|
| Dental implant | A post placed in the jawbone, later topped with a crown. Stands on its own. | Doesn’t involve the neighboring teeth. Needs enough bone and several months of healing. A socket graft at extraction is often recommended when an implant is the plan. |
| Bridge | A false tooth attached to crowns on the teeth on either side. | Fixed in place, no surgery. The teeth next to the gap are reshaped for crowns, which makes the most sense when they already need them. |
| Removable partial or denture | A replacement that clips onto remaining teeth or rests on the gums. | Often the simplest way to replace several teeth. Comes out to clean, and takes some getting used to. |
| Leaving the space | No replacement. | Reasonable for some back teeth. Neighboring and opposing teeth can drift over time, and later options may be harder once bone has shrunk. |
Extractions before cancer treatment
Extractions before head and neck radiation.
Teeth with a poor long-term outlook in the radiation field are safer to remove before treatment than after. Current guidance recommends allowing healing time before radiation starts, ideally about two weeks.2 Referred patients are typically seen within 72 hours, and we work with the oncology team on timing.
Dr. Henley provides dental evaluation and treatment before, during, and after cancer therapy, and is affiliated with Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville. When there isn’t enough time to do everything before the start date, we prioritize by risk and share the plan with the oncology team. A written summary goes back to the referring team.
Learn more on our head and neck cancer page. Physicians can reach us at (904) 762-5616 or fax (904) 212-4045.
Sedation options
If you’re nervous about having a tooth out.
Every extraction starts with local anesthetic. For anxious adults we offer nitrous oxide, an anti-anxiety pill the night before, or oral sedation with triazolam, which is minimal sedation and requires a driver. We don’t offer IV sedation; patients who need it are referred to an oral surgeon.
If one bad experience years ago is why you’ve put this off, tell us. We’ll take it slower.
- Nitrous oxide. Breathed through a small nose mask; it wears off within minutes.
- Oral sedation with triazolam. For adults. Relaxed and drowsy but able to respond. You need someone to drive you home.
Sedation is planned around your medicines, including GLP-1 drugs. See sedation dentistry.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about tooth extractions.
Where can I get a tooth extraction in Jacksonville?
Our office is at 3675 Hendricks Avenue in San Marco, Jacksonville. Dr. Henley does the exam and the extraction himself. If your tooth needs an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, such as an impacted wisdom tooth, we’ll tell you why and send your records. Call 904.398.1549 or request an appointment.
Does having a tooth pulled hurt?
You should feel pressure and some pushing, but not sharp pain. We check that you’re completely numb before starting and add more anesthetic if you feel anything sharp. Soreness for a few days afterward is normal. If you’re anxious, ask about sedation.
How long is recovery after a tooth extraction?
Most people are back to normal routines in a day or two after a simple extraction. Surgical and wisdom tooth extractions often take several days. If you had oral sedation, plan on resting the rest of that day. Pain that gets worse after the second or third day should be checked for dry socket.
Do you remove wisdom teeth?
Some. Wisdom teeth that have come in, or are mostly through the gum with roots well away from the nerve, can often be removed here. Teeth impacted in bone, roots near the nerve to the lip and chin, and upper roots in the sinus go to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. We decide after looking at your X-rays.
Should I stop my blood thinner before an extraction?
Not on your own. Stopping a blood thinner can raise your risk of a stroke or clot. Many routine extractions can be done while you keep taking it, with careful technique and local measures to control bleeding. When a change does make sense, we coordinate with the doctor who prescribes it. Bring your medication list to your visit.
I take Prolia or Fosamax. Can I still have a tooth pulled?
Usually yes, with planning. These medicines carry a small risk of a jaw healing problem called MRONJ, which is higher at cancer doses. We review which drug, the dose, and how long you’ve taken it, then plan the extraction to lower the risk. See our page on osteoporosis medications.
How do I avoid dry socket?
Protect the clot for the first several days. Don’t smoke or vape, don’t drink through a straw, and don’t spit or rinse hard in the first 24 hours. Then rinse gently with warm salt water. Smoking is one of the strongest risk factors. If pain ramps up a few days in, call us. Dry socket is treatable. More on our dry socket page.
Do I need a bone graft after an extraction?
Not always. If you plan to replace the tooth with an implant, a graft placed in the socket at the time of extraction can help keep the bone width the implant will need. With a bridge, a removable partial, or no replacement, a graft is often unnecessary.
How much does a tooth extraction cost?
It depends on whether it’s a simple or surgical extraction, whether a bone graft is placed, and whether you choose sedation. You get the fee for each step in writing before we start. We’re out of network, though many plans still pay part of the cost. Call with your plan details and we’ll help you understand your benefits.
Your next step
Have a tooth that might need to come out?
Come see us in San Marco. Dr. Henley will look at the tooth, tell you honestly whether it can be saved, review your medications, and lay out the options and fees in writing before anything happens. If you’re in pain now, call and we’ll find a time.
CJ Henley, DMD, PA3675 Hendricks Avenue
Jacksonville, FL 32207
Prefer a nonurgent text? 904.762.5616 is our practice on-call and text line. Please don’t send sensitive health information by text, and call for anything urgent.
Related pages
Sources
- Ruggiero SL, Dodson TB, Aghaloo T, Carlson ER, Ward BB, Kademani D. American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons’ Position Paper on Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaws—2022 Update. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2022;80(5):920-943.
- Peterson DE, Koyfman SA, Yarom N, et al. Prevention and Management of Osteoradionecrosis in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer Treated With Radiation Therapy: ISOO-MASCC-ASCO Guideline. J Clin Oncol. 2024;42(16):1975-1996.
- Kuśnierek W, Brzezińska K, Nijakowski K, Surdacka A. Smoking as a Risk Factor for Dry Socket: A Systematic Review. Dent J (Basel). 2022;10(7):121.
- Manfredi M, Dave B, Percudani D, et al. World workshop on oral medicine VII: Direct anticoagulant agents management for invasive oral procedures: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Oral Dis. 2019;25 Suppl 1:157-173.
- Kindel TL, Wang AY, Wadhwa A, et al. Multisociety Clinical Practice Guidance for the Safe Use of Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists in the Perioperative Period. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2025;23(12):2083-2085.
- Tan WL, Wong TL, Wong MC, Lang NP. A systematic review of post-extractional alveolar hard and soft tissue dimensional changes in humans. Clin Oral Implants Res. 2012;23 Suppl 5:1-21.