Simple vs Surgical Tooth Extraction in Canada (2026)

Estimate your CDCP out-of-pocket cost

Both simple and surgical extractions are covered under the CDCP oral-surgery section. Use the calculator to estimate what you pay after CDCP coverage at your income tier.

Even at the 100% income tier, balance billing can leave a gap if your dentist bills above the CDCP established fee. Ask whether your dentist accepts assignment billing before the appointment.

Simple extraction: how it works and what it costs

Procedure

A simple extraction is performed on a tooth that is fully erupted and accessible from above the gum line. The dentist:

1. Administers a local anaesthetic to numb the tooth and surrounding tissue.
2. Loosens the tooth using a periosteal elevator or dental pick to break the periodontal ligament.
3. Grips the tooth with extraction forceps and removes it using a controlled rocking and rotating motion.
4. Applies gauze for the patient to bite down on to control bleeding.

The whole process typically takes 10–20 minutes per tooth from administration of anaesthetic to completion. Sutures are not usually needed.

Cost (simple extraction, Canada 2026)

Simple extraction fees come directly from 2026 provincial suggested-fee guides:

For the full province-by-province table including Newfoundland and Saskatchewan, see Extraction Cost by Province.

Recovery from a simple extraction

Most patients experience mild soreness for 2–3 days. Common post-operative advice:

• Bite gauze for 30–45 minutes to allow the clot to form.
• Avoid drinking through a straw, spitting forcefully or smoking for at least 24 hours.
• Eat soft foods on the opposite side for 2–3 days.
• After 24 hours, rinse gently with warm salt water several times per day.

Surgical extraction: how it works and what it costs

Procedure

A surgical extraction is required when the tooth cannot be accessed from above the gum line. This includes:

• Teeth impacted in the gum or jawbone (wisdom teeth, unerupted canines).
• Teeth with fractured crowns below the gum line.
• Teeth with curved, dilacerated or fused roots that will not release with standard forceps technique.
• Retained root tips after a previous partial extraction.

The dentist or oral surgeon:

1. Administers local anaesthetic (and sometimes intravenous sedation for anxious patients or complex cases — note that sedation is not covered by the CDCP as a separate benefit for standard extractions).
2. Makes an incision in the gum tissue to create a flap and expose the underlying bone and root.
3. Removes bone where necessary to free the tooth or individual roots.
4. Sections the tooth into pieces if needed to reduce the amount of bone removal required.
5. Extracts the tooth in pieces, then cleans the socket.
6. Repositions and sutures the gum flap.

The procedure can take 30–90 minutes depending on complexity. A follow-up appointment is usually scheduled to remove sutures.

Cost (surgical extraction, Canada 2026 — market estimate)

Surgical extraction fees are not published on provincial fee guides as a single line item. The figures below are 2026 market estimates based on Canadian dental clinic pricing and should be treated as indicative, not official.

Fees at oral surgery specialists can be 30–50% higher than at a general dental practice. Urban centres in Ontario and BC tend toward the upper end of these ranges.

Recovery from a surgical extraction

• Swelling is normal and usually peaks at 48 hours; ice packs during the first 24 hours help.
• Prescription analgesics may be provided for complex cases.
• Sutures are removed at a follow-up appointment, usually 7 days later.
• Full socket healing takes 6–8 weeks for simple surgicals and up to 3–6 months for large bony-impaction sockets.

Dry socket is more frequent after surgical extractions, particularly lower wisdom teeth: approximately 10–30% of fully bony-impaction removals. Symptoms are a deep, throbbing ache beginning 2–4 days post-operatively. Treatment involves medicated socket packing and resolves within a few days.

CDCP coverage: simple vs surgical side by side

For third-molar retreatment or apicoectomy after a surgical extraction, pre-authorization may be required. See the full CDCP Coverage Guide.

Which extraction type will I need?

Your dentist or oral surgeon decides based on:

1. Radiographic assessment (usually a periapical X-ray, sometimes a panoramic OPG) — this shows root morphology and bone levels.
2. Crown structure — if there is not enough tooth above the gum line for forceps, surgical access is required.
3. Impaction depth and angle — fully horizontal or deeply embedded teeth require surgical technique.
4. Proximity to nerves and sinuses — lower wisdom teeth near the inferior alveolar nerve, or upper teeth near the sinus floor, may need specialist referral.

Ask your dentist to confirm the planned extraction type and the associated fee before scheduling — this avoids surprises when the bill arrives.

Related pages

• Tooth Extraction Cost in Canada — hub page with simple-extraction dataset
• Wisdom Teeth Removal Cost — per-complexity cost breakdown
• Extraction Cost by Province — province-by-province simple-extraction table
• CDCP Coverage Guide — full 2026 coverage matrix
• Dental Costs in Canada — all procedures, recall exam to implants

Frequently asked questions

This page provides pricing and market research information, NOT medical or dental advice. Real Dental Costs is an independent data publisher and is not affiliated with the Government of Canada or Sun Life Financial. Surgical extraction figures are 2026 market estimates and are not sourced from official provincial fee guides.