Tooth Extractions – Lebanon, NH
Gentle Tooth Removal
No one likes the idea of getting a tooth extracted, and as your dentist in Lebanon, we want to help you retain your natural teeth for a lifetime. However, that is not always possible. In some cases, an extraction is the best way to stop a patient’s pain and get their oral health back on track. Read on below to learn more about why tooth removal is sometimes necessary and what you can expect during the procedure.
Why Choose O&S Dental Professionals for Tooth Extractions?
- Sedation Available
- Experienced Dental Team
- Used Only as a Last Resort
Reasons Why Tooth Extractions Are Necessary
Here are some scenarios in which tooth extractions in Lebanon are necessary:
- A tooth has suffered such severe damage or decay that other restorative treatments are unable to preserve it.
- Removing teeth is necessary to make room for orthodontic treatment or dentures.
- One of a child’s primary teeth has not fallen out in a timely manner and could adversely affect their adult teeth.
- A tooth is impacted (stuck beneath the gumline) and threatening your oral health.
In some emergency situations, immediate extractions are necessary in order to stop an infection and prevent serious future complications.
The Process of Removing a Tooth
First, we will make you comfortable by numbing the tooth and the surrounding tissue. If necessary, we may also sedate you. Next, we use an elevator to lift the tooth out of its socket before we grip it with forceps and rock it back and forth to break the ligaments that are keeping it in place. If a tooth extraction is more complex, we might have to make incisions in the gums or break the tooth into pieces to remove it.
In most cases, we strongly encourage patients to replace missing teeth as soon as possible. We will explain your tooth replacement options either before or shortly after your extraction.
Tooth Extraction Aftercare
Most patients feel normal within a week or two of their extraction. Here are a few tips to help you enjoy a smooth recovery:
- Take any medications as prescribed.
- Avoid smoking, drinking through a straw, and other activities that might disturb the blood clot at the extraction site.
- Get plenty of rest.
- Eat soft foods until you feel up to chewing.
- Be very gentle when brushing and flossing around the extraction site.
- After 24 hours, rinse with warm salt water to clean your mouth.
- Call us if you have any concerns or questions.
After your gums and bone have had adequate time to heal, you may be eligible for a dental implant or bridge. These tooth replacement options can play a role in reducing the risk of future tooth loss and supporting your long-term oral health.
Understanding the Cost of Tooth Extractions
The cost of tooth extractions is not prohibitive for most patients. In fact, in some cases, this service can be quite affordable. During your consultation, we will provide you with a personalized cost estimate and help you to consider your payment options. Insurance usually covers extractions, and many patients are eligible for financing as well. Our team will do everything we can to help you afford your treatment.
Factors That Can Affect Tooth Extraction Cost
Some factors that can influence the cost of tooth extractions for patients in Lebanon include:
- The number of teeth being extracted. Logically, more extractions will incur a higher price.
- The type and location of the tooth. Some teeth are easier to remove than others, meaning that extracting them may cost less. Wisdom teeth, on the other hand, usually cost more to remove due to their location and the fact that they are often impacted (stuck beneath the gumline).
- The complexity of your case. Simple extractions cost less than surgical ones. In rare cases, we refer patients to an outside specialist whose pricing structure is different from our own.
- Follow-up care. In most cases, extractions should be followed by tooth replacement. Whether you get a bridge, dentures, or dental implants will influence the total cost of your care. (Implants tend to cost more but are decidedly more advantageous.)
Does Dental Insurance Cover Tooth Extractions?
In most cases, yes, dental insurance covers tooth extractions. Simple extractions are usually classed as a minor service, meaning that around 80% of their cost might be covered. Surgical extractions may be only 50% covered. You will have to check the details of your unique policy to see how it applies. Our team will be pleased to help you verify your benefits, file claims, and use your insurance to your greatest advantage.
Other Options for Making Tooth Extractions Affordable
In addition to insurance, there are a few provisions that might make tooth extractions more affordable for you:
- Essential Dental Plan. This discount plan, designed for patients without insurance, provides reduced fees on virtually all the services available in our practice.
- We accept payment from CareCredit, a third-party lender that offers low-interest and no-interest payment plans for dental treatments. The application process is quick, and most patients are approved for financing.
- Promotional pricing. We offer free dental implant consultations for patients who are looking to replace missing teeth following extractions.
You should not hold back from getting necessary care due to concerns about cost. Our team is ready to help you understand the price of tooth extractions and assist you as you explore your payment options. Get in touch with us today to book a consultation.
Tooth Extractions FAQs
We hope you can retain all of your natural teeth for a lifetime, but if you ever require an extraction, our team is ready to help you. Before your procedure, however, you might want to know more about what to expect. That is why we have put together the following brief list of frequently asked questions about tooth extractions in Lebanon. If you do not see the information you were specifically looking for, please reach out to us directly.
Does Getting a Tooth Extracted Hurt?
We make every effort to make our patients comfortable. One of the first steps in the tooth extraction procedure is numbing the mouth. Sedation is also available for particularly nervous or sensitive patients. Keep in mind that the numbing agent eliminates pain, but it does not eliminate pressure, so you may feel movement in your mouth when we are removing the tooth. After your procedure, some swelling and soreness are normal. Following the aftercare instructions from your dentist in Lebanon will help to keep such symptoms to a minimum. If your pain drastically worsens at any point during your recovery, call us right away.
Is There an Alternative to a Tooth Extraction?
If your dentist recommends a tooth extraction, it is probably the only viable treatment option for your particular situation. However, they will first consider whether another procedure might be able to preserve the tooth. For example, root canal therapy is often able to save decayed teeth that would otherwise need to be extracted. Gum disease treatment is sometimes able to prevent tooth loss that occurs as a result of receding gums and weakened bones.
What Is the Difference Between Tooth Extractions and Wisdom Tooth Surgery?
There are basically two types of tooth extractions: simple and surgical. Simple tooth extractions are much more routine, while a surgical tooth extraction — which usually includes wisdom tooth surgery — is more complex. It might involve making incisions in the gums or other extra steps for successful tooth removal. And, of course, another big difference between normal tooth extractions and wisdom tooth surgery is that wisdom tooth surgery is exclusively for removing the third set of molars, while a regular tooth extraction can take place anywhere in the mouth.
Can I Leave the Space Empty After a Tooth Extraction?
If the space left by a tooth extraction is at the back of the mouth, you might not be in any hurry to consider tooth replacement. However, a missing tooth does more than pose an aesthetic problem. Even one missing molar can make it more difficult for you to properly chew your food. The other nearby teeth could also drift out of place, leading to a misaligned bite. Often, tooth loss without tooth replacement leads to the future loss of even more teeth. If your missing tooth is toward the front of the mouth, you might also begin to experience speech difficulties. It is in your best interests to replace any missing teeth as soon as possible.