Tooth Extractions – West Seneca, NY
When a Tooth Has to Go
Seeing a patient lose a natural tooth will never be our first choice, but there are specific circumstances where removing a tooth now will be better for your overall oral health in the long run. The extractions performed at Applegate Dental PLLC are safe, comfortable, and efficient, and we can help you explore tooth replacement options so that you don’t have to live with a gap in your smile for long. Call us today if you think you might have a tooth that is doing more harm than good inside your mouth. We'll discuss your options, including tooth extractions in West Seneca, NY.
Why Choose Applegate Dental PLLC for Tooth Extractions?
- In-House Dental Implant Placement
- Sedation for Comfortable Procedures
- High Quality Bridges and Dentures
Common Reasons for Tooth Extraction
Tooth extraction is only ever recommended as a form of treatment when there’s no other way to prevent a serious oral health issue. Such circumstances might include:
- Severe decay or damage that is beyond the point of repair
- Crowded teeth that are complicating a potential orthodontic procedure
- Making room for dentures or partial dentures
- Teeth that are unable to erupt properly in the mouth
- Wisdom teeth that have become trapped under the gums
- Baby teeth that do not fall out on their own
How Tooth Extractions Work
If the tooth has fully erupted from the gums, the extraction process should be a simple one (although ideally the tooth will be pulled as soon as possible before it fully fuses with supportive structures). We can use a metal tool to hold the tooth and shift the roots back and forth until we work it free from the socket. If this approach isn’t possible, we can surgically remove any gum or bone tissue that is in the way in order to remove the tooth.
After Tooth Extraction
Although considered minor surgery at most, a tooth extraction requires good aftercare. Otherwise, you could end up with an infection or dry socket, a painful complication. Here are the things you need to do to ensure a smooth recovery:
- Keep clean gauze on the site and gently bite down. As the gauze becomes saturated, switch it out until a blood clot forms on the site. When you brush your teeth, cautiously avoid the extraction area.
- For several days, only eat soft foods like eggs, yogurt, oatmeal, mashed potatoes, and so on. Do not use a straw for at least 48 hours because the sucking motion could remove the clot prematurely and expose the vulnerable tissue underneath to bacteria.
- Take over-the-counter pain reliever to manage any discomfort. A cold compress on your face can also help.
- Get lots of rest! For at least a couple of days, refrain from strenuous activities and take it easy to help your body heal.
Understanding the Cost of Tooth Extractions
Prior to undergoing a procedure like tooth extraction, you may wonder how much this treatment will cost. We won’t be able to give you an accurate estimate until we examine your mouth, but as soon as we do, we can go through the financial details of your case. Regardless of your situation, our team is happy to work with you and your budget, making treatment affordable and less stressful on your wallet.
Factors That Can Affect Tooth Extraction Cost
Although all extractions have the same final result—a removed tooth—the cost of the procedure will vary on a case-by-case basis because of the following factors:
- How many teeth are being taken out: Obviously, the cost will rise as the number of teeth being extracted increases.
- The type of extraction: While some teeth can be rocked back and forth until they come loose, others may still be underneath the gums, requiring surgical removal, which costs more.
- Location in the mouth: The front teeth tend to be much easier and faster to take out, and molars are more challenging and expensive.
- The type of tooth replacement you may need: In most cases, extracted teeth need to be replaced, and the treatment you choose, whether it be a bridge, denture, or dental implant, will come with its own cost.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Tooth Extractions?
Although some variation may exist between individual policies, most dental insurance plans will pay for a portion of the overall cost of extractions. Usually this amount is about 50 percent of the total, which significantly reduces your out-of-pocket cost. When we determine that extraction is necessary, our front desk team can do more research into your policy to see how we might be able to save you money by maximizing your coverage.
How to Make Tooth Extractions Affordable
Regardless of your insurance or lack thereof, you may not have the funds to pay for your extractions completely upfront. In these kinds of situations, we accept payment through CareCredit, a financier that allows you to pay for treatment over time in smaller monthly payments instead of a one-lump sum. If necessary, we can guide you through the application process, so you can afford treatment without or without insurance’s help.
Frequently Asked Questions about Tooth Extraction
Does a Tooth Extraction Hurt?
At Applegate Dental, we will do everything we can to make your experience as pain free and comfortable as possible. Prior to starting a tooth extraction, regardless of the method we use, we will give you a local anesthetic, numbing the area. We can also offer sedation, which will not only help keep you calm and relaxed but also provide additional numbness. As a result, during your procedure, you shouldn’t feel pain, but you may feel pressure inside your mouth. After the anesthetic wears off, it is normal to feel soreness and mild discomfort, which is why you should take pain reliever as directed.
How Long Does a Tooth Extraction Take?
The length of the procedure will depend on several variables, including how many teeth are being extracted, whether they have erupted or are still under the gums, and their location in the mouth. Usually, extractions take between 30 and 90 minutes, but we’ll let you know beforehand how much time to budget for the procedure.
Do I Have to Replace the Extracted Tooth?
In most cases, it is absolutely necessary to replace a tooth lost to extraction. Without a prosthetic to fill in the gap, your remaining teeth can shift out of alignment, creating wider spaces between teeth and altering your bite. As a result, you are at an increased risk of additional tooth loss, jaw pain, and damage to your enamel. Plus, you shouldn’t want to have a hole in your smile! It can hamper your confidence as well as your ability to eat or speak.
Can I Smoke After Having a Tooth Extracted?
In general, smoking is not beneficial for your oral health, but it can be particularly risky when you’re recovering from a tooth extraction. Not only does the act of sucking in pose a threat to the blood clot on the site, but smoking also encourages bacterial growth in the mouth, which can only complicate the healing process. It’s best to try to stop this habit, but otherwise avoid smoking for at least 48 hours following a tooth extraction to give your mouth the opportunity to heal properly.
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