Denton Tooth Extractions
In most cases, we partner with patients to maintain their healthy smiles and avoid tooth loss. However, there
are certain circumstances where tooth extraction is the right thing to help you maintain the optimal level of
oral health. If you need to have one or more teeth removed, the Denton Dental Center team is here to help. Our
skilled periodontist, Naveen Karim, DDS, makes it possible for our dental office to provide even the most
advanced surgical tooth extraction services in complete safety and comfort. If you’re ready to learn more
about tooth extractions or other services available from our Denton dentist and team, call to schedule a consultation appointment with us today. We look forward to
seeing you soon.
Why are Extractions Recommended?
We will only recommend tooth extraction when necessary to maintain the optimal level of oral health. Some of the situations where tooth extraction is recommended include:
- When teeth are too damaged or decayed to be repaired
- Prior to orthodontic correction when crowding is a significant concern
- Before designing and placing a tooth replacement option
- When children’s primary teeth do not fall out on their own
- Impacted, unable to erupt, teeth may need to removed
- Third molars, wisdom teeth, may be removed for a number of reasons
How are Tooth Extractions Performed?
We will either need to pull or surgically remove your tooth. Pulling is only possible for those teeth that have fully erupted from the gum line. We numb the area around the tooth before removal. Then, clasping tools are used to hold onto the tooth as we shift it back and forth until it breaks free from the supportive bone and soft tissues. Surgical tooth extractions are necessary when the tooth is not fully erupted or otherwise unable to be pulled. In the simplest cases, we only need to remove a small amount of supportive tissue to extract the tooth. In other cases, our skilled periodontist, Dr. Karim will need to perform more complex tooth extraction procedures. With an experienced specialist in our office, we can easily perform all levels of tooth extraction quickly, safely, and effectively.
Who Performs the Extraction?
In most cases, Dr. Karim, our skilled periodontist, will perform tooth extraction procedures. With years of advanced training and education, Dr. Karim is able to complete even the most complex surgical tooth removal procedures. With a skilled periodontist on our team, patients will be completely safe and comfortable throughout the course of tooth extraction.
What Happens After Tooth Removal?
Following your tooth extraction procedure, we’ll provide you with an after-care plan personalized to your unique situation. There will likely be some discomfort, bleeding, and swelling that should begin to diminish after 48 hours. If you notice increasing pain, swelling, or sensitivity, call our office right away. If you need to have one or more extracted teeth replaced, our team will begin this restoration process as soon as possible after your tooth extraction. If you have questions or concerns about your tooth removal or replacement plan, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our caring dentistry team. We want patients to feel 100% confident in every step of their treatment plans.
Understanding the Cost of Tooth Extractions
When we’re planning your tooth extraction procedure, we’ll give you an estimate of how much you can expect the treatment to cost. The exact amount will be different for every patient based on several factors, which we will explain to you in detail. Once we’ve come up with an estimate, we’ll review your payment options with you; our goal is to get you the care you need at a price that you can afford.
Factors That Can Affect Tooth Extraction Cost
The overall cost of your extraction will vary based on the number of teeth involved. Naturally, you can expect the cost of having multiple teeth extracted to be more than that of a procedure where only one tooth is removed. The type of extraction matters as well; simple extractions usually don’t cost as much as surgical ones.
In addition to the actual procedure, we’ll also need to consider the cost of replacement teeth. Depending on your situation, you might get a bridge, denture, or dental implant to fill in the space left by your extracted tooth or teeth; each type of restoration has a different price attached.
All of the relevant factors that help determine the final cost of tooth extraction will be explained to you during your initial consultation. Feel free to ask us any questions you might have about the procedure; we don’t want you to be caught off-guard by any unwelcome surprises later down the line.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Tooth Extractions?
Since tooth extractions are often necessary to protect your overall oral health, they are usually covered by dental insurance. Usually, you can expect your coverage to be around 50% of the overall cost of treatment, although this can vary depending on what plan you have. Furthermore, some dental insurance companies may only be willing to pay for a certain number of teeth. You should double-check your plan to confirm the details of your coverage before you begin the extraction process.
Our team is used to working with many different insurance companies. If you’re not sure that you understand your coverage, we’ll be more than happy to help! We can review your plan with you and explain the best way to maximize your benefits. We’ll also file any necessary paperwork on your behalf.
How to Make Tooth Extractions Affordable
If you don’t currently have dental insurance (or if you don’t have adequate coverage for a tooth extraction), you still have other options for getting the care you need. With CareCredit financing, you can split up the cost of your care into monthly installments that won’t hurt your budget. Each CareCredit plan has little to no interest attached depending on its length. Call our office today to learn more about how CareCredit works and how you can qualify for a financing plan that works for you.
Post-Tooth Extraction FAQs
Is It Normal to Experience Pain?
Your mouth will receive a local anesthetic to help it stay numb while the tooth is being removed. Once it wears off, though, you’ll probably feel some mild level of discomfort. You might be prescribed painkillers, but oftentimes medication that can be bought over the counter is enough. If necessary, you can also use an ice pack for 20 minutes at time. Swishing warm salt water in your mouth can relieve discomfort and lower the risk of infection. The discomfort may last for up to two weeks after the initial surgery; if it suddenly worsens or does not fade over time, call us.
How Long Should Bleeding Last?
While some bleeding is only to be expected, most of it should only happen right after the extraction itself. We’ll give you a piece of gauze to bite down on in order to apply pressure to the wound. This will stop the worst of the bleeding, though the site might ooze slight for up to 24 hours afterwards.
Normally, a blood clot will form in the socket, protecting the site of the extraction and preventing further bleeding. If this blood clot becomes dislodged, you’ll experience additional pain and an extended recovery time. To avoid this, do not use straws for the first day after the procedure, and stick to a soft food diet.
How Long Does It Take for the Gums to Heal?
Every patient’s recovery time will be different. Usually it depends on which tooth was pulled, how large it was, and whether it was healthy at the time of removal. Generally, the gums heal faster after a smaller tooth near the front is extracted; molar removal typically takes more time to fully recover from. The overall state of your body is also a factor. Make sure you’re getting good nutrition and are keeping your mouth free of bacteria or debris that could infect the wound. Bear in mind that the initial healing period only takes one or two weeks, but it may be up to four weeks until your gums have completely returned to normal, and the bone underneath will take even more time to restore itself.
How Will I Know if There’s a Problem?
You won’t have to worry about further complications after an extraction most of the time, but the following symptoms might point to a serious issue, such as an infection:
- Pain and discomfort beyond the first few days of recovery
- Severe swelling after the second day
- Nausea or fever
- Uncontrollable bleeding that fills your mouth
Reach out to us for advice if you notice any of these warning signs.
What is recovery like after having a tooth extracted?
It’s only natural to wonder what you should expect from your tooth extraction recovery, and Dr. Balington will provide a comprehensive list of post-operative instructions that are intended to help you heal quickly while avoiding potential complications.
For instance, it’s essential that your mouth forms a blood clot at the site to protect the recently exposed bone material and nerves. If it is damaged or dislodged, you might develop a painful side effect, known as dry socket. You can prevent it by steering clear of overly hot, crunchy, or spicy foods, avoiding activities that elevate your heart rate, and drinking plenty of fluids from a glass, because sucking through a straw can harm the clot.
Can I smoke after my procedure?
If you regularly smoke cigarettes or vape, you might wonder how long you should wait after your procedure before resuming your habit. But tobacco products contain nicotine, which functions as a vasoconstrictor. It limits your blood’s oxygen supply and flow, which suppresses your immune system and keeps your body from delivering essential nutrients to your mouth during recovery.
As a result, we often suggest abstaining for at least 5 days to about 2 weeks after your appointment to give your gums sufficient time to heal.
Can I leave the space empty after my tooth is removed?
Whether you’re hoping to save on expenses or simply want to avoid another procedure, it’s normal to question whether it’s safe to leave the space empty after your problematic tooth is pulled. However, those that remain are prone to shifting out of alignment to close the gap, which can wear them down unevenly. This increases the risk of cavities, injuries, and other concerns.
Our team typically recommends replacing your extracted tooth as soon as possible to avoid these potential pitfalls.
What are the options for replacing my tooth?
Dr. Balington understands that you might be unsure of the best way to rebuild your smile after your procedure, and is happy to provide an appropriate recommendation based on your unique circumstances.
There are several potential treatments, including:
- This is the tried-and-true solution for tooth loss, and partial sets or “flippers” can be used to replace a single tooth.
- Dental bridges. These oral appliances include a dental crown at each end that is cemented over healthy abutment teeth or dental implants at both sides of the space in your smile to close the gap.
- Dental implants. This is the only option that involves surgically placing a support rod into your jaw that functions like a root and is capped with a customized dental crown for a longer-lasting, lifelike replacement.