At Smile for Life Dental, we strive to preserve healthy teeth whenever possible. However, in some cases, removing a broken or damaged tooth can actually benefit your overall oral health. In the dental world, tooth extraction refers to the removal of a tooth in a surgical or non-surgical setting. Issues like crowding, infection, or impaction can often be solved through extraction.
Our compassionate dentist—Dean Lodding, DDS—understands that the decision to have a tooth removed is not always easy. He can help you decide whether extraction is the best course of action for your oral health needs before moving forward. In addition, should you decide to move forward with extraction, Dr. Lodding provides various options to replace the missing tooth, including dental implants. As with every treatment he offers, Dr. Lodding will do his best to ensure you have the most comfortable experience possible.
Extraction may be a good option if the tooth is:
Tooth extraction may also be needed to facilitate the placement of implant dentures or other prosthetics.
Depending on the location and state of the tooth (i.e., whether it is impacted, difficult to reach, etc.), extraction is generally a straightforward procedure. Surgery may be necessary in some cases, but extraction surgeries are not usually lengthy or complicated. Simpler extractions might involve the removal of the tooth as a whole, whereas in other cases, the tooth may need to be broken apart in order to be removed. Stitches or sutures are sometimes used to help protect the extraction site. Smile for Life Dental also offers three forms of sedation dentistry that can help make your treatment experience more comfortable and relaxing: nitrous oxide, IV sedation, and oral conscious sedation.
While the precise timeline of your recovery will depend on the specifics of the procedure, healing from a tooth extraction typically takes around 1-2 weeks. You may be prescribed pain medications or be instructed to use over-the-counter anti-inflammatories, and you will likely be advised to keep gauze in place until the bleeding stops. A gently-applied ice pack may help with initial swelling and soreness. Brushing and flossing can typically be done as usual in the days following the procedure, but you should avoid disturbing the area directly around the extraction site. Dr. Lodding may also suggest you avoid certain foods for the first few days after your procedure.
The national average cost of a tooth extraction procedure typically ranges from roughly $130 to $400. That said, the cost will likely vary among patients, as no two extraction procedures are alike. The amount of work needed to complete the extraction, the number of teeth being extracted, whether the extraction requires or does not require oral surgery, and other key factors will determine the final cost. Dr. Lodding and the rest of our team are always open to discussing your financial options, and we aim to make the process as easy as possible. For this reason, we accept a number of dental insurance plans, and we work with CareCredit® and ALPHAEON® CREDIT, two trusted third-party healthcare financing programs. Please feel free to ask about these programs at your consultation.
Dr. Lodding aims to make every procedure as comfortable as possible. He is always available to listen to your questions and concerns regarding tooth extraction or any other treatment we offer at Smile for Life Dental. We welcome you to schedule your consultation today!