Tooth Extractions Mesquite
Keeping Your Smile Healthy & Flawlessly Functioning
Removing a tooth is never something the TrueCare Dentistry team does lightly. We want our patients to keep their healthy smiles for their whole lives if possible. Unfortunately, there are some situations where tooth removal will be your best option to preserve the health of surrounding teeth. When teeth are unable to erupt on their own, baby teeth don’t fall out naturally, your bite is crowded, or you simply experience decay or damage too severe for us to save the tooth, extraction may be your best option. If you want to learn more about tooth extractions or any other dental treatment options, call our dental office in Mesquite to schedule an appointment with our caring dentist and team. We look forward to partnering with you to maintain a healthy smile for life.
Why Choose TrueCare Dentistry For Tooth Extractions?
- Comfortable Dental Sedation for Nervous Patients
- Same-Day Emergency Appointments Available
- Dentist with Years of Proven Experience
Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Wisdom teeth are, by far, the most often extracted. They take their common name from the fact that they emerge in the late teens or early twenties, which the Victorians referred to as the age of wisdom. Actually, these teeth are just a third set of molars. While our human ancestors needed these teeth to replace those lost due to poor diet and oral hygiene, most people simply don’t need this third set of molars anymore. In many cases, these teeth are unable to erupt at all (impacted), cause crowding between teeth, and can even push your smile out of alignment, undoing orthodontic treatments. For these and other reasons, we may recommend removal.
Multiple Tooth Extractions
Wisdom teeth are, again, the most common example of this form of tooth extraction, but whatever the reason, we try to remove multiple teeth in one appointment whenever possible. This allows patients to deal with the extraction in one visit and go through the recovery and healing process just once. To maintain comfort during these potentially lengthy procedures, we may recommend using sedation dentistry.
Extraction Site Preservation
Following the removal of a tooth, we don’t want our patients to lose the bone and gum tissue that support the smile, but due to lack of stimulus from the tooth’s root, many people see diminished jawbone density and gum tissue volume. Socket preservation procedures help limit this tissue loss, maintaining the maximum amount of healthy tooth structure. This is especially important for those patients who plan to replace the extracted tooth using dental implants in the future.
Post-Operative Care
After your tooth has been extracted, you’ll need to take special care to ensure a full, safe recovery. Before your procedure, we’ll walk you through at-home care and provide you with your specific post-operative care routine. Some of the basics to keep in mind include:
- Take your prescription or over-the-counter pain relievers as directed to avoid unnecessary discomfort and control swelling and inflammation.
- Use an ice pack for the first 48 hours to relieve pain, prevent severe swelling, and slow blood flow. Apply ice packs for 20 minutes at a time and try to avoid completely numbing your face.
- Consume only liquids for the first two days after treatment but avoid using straws, as suction can dislodge your blood clot and slow healing. When you feel comfortable, you can begin eating denser, solid foods.
Understanding the Cost of Tooth Extractions
A tooth extraction is never your dentist’s first choice, but sometimes, it is necessary to maintain the health of the rest of your smile. We cannot provide the exact cost of your treatment until we examine your smile because there are so many factors that play a role. In the meantime, here are some things for you to consider.
Factors That Can Affect Tooth Extraction Cost
The cost of your tooth extraction will be determined by several different factors once we’ve had the chance to examine your smile. Here are the things we consider:
- Number of Teeth: The more teeth that need to be extracted, the higher the cost of the treatment.
- Location of Tooth: The location of the tooth impacts the cost of your extraction.
- Difficulty of Extraction: Some extractions are more complicated than others. This will contribute to the cost. For instance, removing an impacted tooth tends to cost more than a simple tooth extraction.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Tooth Extractions?
Dental insurance will typically cover about half of the cost of tooth extractions once the deductible has been met. However, there could be limits in place that affect this. For example, your insurance may cover up to a certain number of teeth or there could be a waiting period before your coverage kicks in. Each plan varies, so you should confirm everything with your provider before your procedure. If you need help understanding your benefits, don’t hesitate to reach out.
Other Options for Making Tooth Extractions Affordable
If you don’t have dental insurance, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you will be left to pay your entire bill all at once. We are partnered with CareCredit – a third-party financing company that can split the cost of your treatment into manageable monthly installments with little to no interest. To learn more about your financial options, reach out to one of our friendly team members.
If you have any questions regarding the cost of your treatment, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We’re happy to help restore your smile to health!
Tooth Extraction FAQs
Is There an Alternative to a Tooth Extraction?
Sadly, if your dentist is recommending a tooth extraction, then the answer is probably no. It’s always preferable to save teeth with root canal therapy, dental crowns, scaling and root planing, and other procedures whenever possible. As such, if these options are still viable, we will always suggest them first.
However, in many cases, a tooth may simply be beyond salvaging, and removing it could be the only way to keep your entire mouth healthy. That said, there’s no need to panic if you’re told that you need an extraction; we’ll do everything in our power to help you stay as calm and comfortable as possible during your treatment.
Can I Leave the Space Empty After a Tooth Extraction?
Yes, but it’s generally not a good idea. Having a complete smile is about more than appearances. Even a single missing tooth can affect the way you speak and make it harder to chew your food correctly. Also, the teeth next to the gap might start to shift, leading to a misaligned bite.
In short, replacing an extracted tooth is always the best choice. There are several options for filling in the gap left behind by a removed tooth, including dental bridges, partial dentures, and dental implants; we can go over these treatments in detail with you before your extraction is performed.
Does Getting a Tooth Extracted Hurt?
A local anesthetic will be used to numb your mouth before the procedure begins. There should be little to no discomfort from the extraction itself. However, some soreness may occur once the treatment is complete. Please follow any aftercare instructions that we give you to ensure a smooth healing process. Contact our team right away if your post-extraction discomfort seems to be getting worse or if you’re seeing signs of a fever.
Can I Smoke After Getting a Tooth Extracted?
Any kind of tobacco product – whether it’s a cigarette, a vaporizer, chewing tobacco, and so on – could affect your body’s ability to heal itself after tooth extraction. As such, if you’re having a tooth removed, you will be told to avoid tobacco products altogether for at least five days after the procedure. If you want to play it safe, we recommend staying away from tobacco for two weeks or more to minimize the risk of any complications during the recovery process.