A dental extraction is the removal of a tooth from its socket, performed by a dentist or oral surgeon when a tooth is too damaged by decay, trauma, or gum disease to be saved, or to correct overcrowding/impacted wisdom teeth, using local anesthetic (and sometimes sedation) to numb the area, loosening the tooth with instruments, and requiring post-procedure care like gauze and pain management to promote healing. toothpain loose tooth toothache tooth removal painless extraction painless tooth removal wisdom tooth third molar