You may be surprised to learn that even in a hospital setting, it is illegal for anyone to extract a tooth who is not a licensed dentist. If you visit your local emergency room for a tooth that needs to be removed, the only thing they’ll be able to do is provide antibiotics and pain medication. While this is helpful, it will not effectively address the underlying problem. Seeing Dr. Gray for a full examination will determine if you need a tooth extraction or if a root canal or another form of treatment can address the problem.