Before a tooth extraction can occur, the patient requires a dental examination. The dentist generally will also collect the patient’s medical and dental history and take an x-ray. The x-ray helps the dentist to determine the best way to extract the tooth. This is particularly important for surgical extractions, where the exact location of the tooth may not be obvious. If many teeth need to be extracted (e.g., all wisdom teeth), a panoramic x-ray may be made to show all the teeth as well as the location of the sinuses and major nerves.

In some cases, dentists may prescribe antibiotics for the patient to take before the procedure. During the extraction, bacteria in the mouth may enter the blood stream and infect other areas of the body. Preventative antibiotic use is most common for patients at a high risk of infection, such as people with weakened immune systems, heart murmurs, the very young or elderly, those who require a more complicated surgery, and people with artificial implants (e.g., artificial hip). If an infection is already present, it will also need to be treated with antibiotics before any teeth are extracted.

If a stronger anesthesia (e.g., conscious sedation, general anesthesia) is used, patients are often asked to wear clothing that will allow the use of an intravenous (I.V.) line, such as short sleeves. They may need to refrain from eating or drinking before the procedure (e.g., six hours) and will require a ride home after the extraction.