Infinity Dental Care
Tooth Extractions – Hillsboro, OR
Safe & Effective Tooth Extractions
Modern restorative dentistry enables our team to save even the most damaged teeth most of the time, but unfortunately, there are some situations wherein a tooth has to be removed. This is usually the case when decay, physical trauma, or infection has simply injured a tooth beyond repair. We know this procedure can make many patients feel nervous, which is why we’re happy to answer any questions beforehand to calm lingering nerves. We can also provide soothing sedation to ensure a comfortable experience while in the chair. If you or your child is in need of an extraction, you can trust it will be a stress-free experience at Infinity Dental Care. To learn more, contact us today.
Why Choose Infinity Dental Care for Tooth Extractions?
- Patient Comfort Always Comes First
- Multiple Types of Sedation Available
- Treatment All In-House
Reasons Why Tooth Extractions Are Necessary
We always do everything in our power to help patients keep their natural teeth, but sometimes it simply isn’t a viable option. Here are some of the reasons why a tooth extraction may be necessary:
- There is severe damage or decay to the tooth that is irreparable.
- To ensure the long-term success of a restoration, like a denture.
- To allow for a patient to undergo orthodontic treatment.
- If a tooth is impacted and unable to erupt properly.
- When a primary tooth won’t fall out on its own.
By extracting troublesome teeth, future infections and other dental problems are much less likely to occur.
The Process of Removing a Tooth
Teeth are either removed by pulling or surgical extraction. Teeth can only be “pulled” when they have fully emerged from the gum line. In this case, we will start by numbing the area around your teeth with a local anesthetic and using a clasping tool to shift around the tooth until it breaks away from the gum line. If pulling the tooth isn’t possible, the tooth will need to be surgically extracted. For this procedure, a small incision is made to the gum tissue to allow us the ability to reach enough of your tooth to fully remove it.
To determine which extraction method is right for you, see us for a consultation where we can evaluate your smile. When we discuss your extraction, we can also talk about potential tooth replacement options to prevent future oral health issues as a result of missing teeth.
Tooth Extraction Aftercare
Before you leave our office, we will provide you with specific aftercare instructions to help you stay comfortable and avoid complications. Every case is different, but here are some steps that we typically recommend for a quick recovery:
- Rinse with saltwater 24 hours after your procedure.
- Avoid using tobacco products until your mouth has healed.
- Keep your head elevated while you sleep.
- Get plenty of rest to promote healing.
- Take recommended over-the-counter and prescribed medication as directed.
- Apply a cold compress to reduce swelling and discomfort.
- Stay away from hard, crunchy, and sticky foods.
Understanding the Cost of Tooth Extractions
If you need a pearly white pulled, you may want to know the price involved. After all, the cost of tooth extraction in Hillsboro affects whether you can afford it! That said, it’s impossible to give a treatment estimate ahead of time; extraction cost varies by patient. You’ll thus need to consult our office to learn the exact pricing. Fortunately, we at Infinity Dental Care will guide you through the financial aspects of this procedure. To learn how that would work, keep reading or call us for more details.
Factors That Can Affect Tooth Extraction Cost
An extraction’s exact cost depends on the affected tooth. Therefore, we’ll need to perform an oral exam to assess your issue. Doing so will help us see the factors that affect the final price. These aspects include:
- Tooth Type, Location, and Number: Extracting a tooth will cost more or less based on whether it’s a molar, canine, etc. Similarly, pulling several teeth is more expensive than just pulling one.
- Extraction Difficulty: A simple extraction isn’t very complicated, so its cost isn’t too high. However, a surgical extraction — one that involves the removal of gum tissue or bone — can cost several hundred dollars more.
- Need for Sedation: Additional sedation, such as nitrous oxide, will increase the cost. However, a local anesthetic is included in the price of extraction.
- Tooth Replacement Options: If you get a replacement tooth after the extraction, treatment will cost more. That especially applies to dental implants, which are more expensive than dentures or bridges.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Tooth Extractions?
Of course, not everyone has dental insurance. If you don’t, though, other ways exist to make extractions affordable.
Still, there are occasional limits or restrictions. For example, some plans only cover extraction for a certain number of teeth. Meanwhile, others require a waiting period before the coverage takes effect. Every plan is different, then, so it’s crucial to confirm things with your insurance provider first. If you’d like, our team can help you with that process!
How to Make Tooth Extractions Affordable
Of course, not everyone happens to have dental insurance. If you don’t, though, there are other ways to make extractions affordable.
Consider us at Infinity Dental Care, for instance. Our office offers flexible financing through CareCredit. Through them, we let patients pay for care in monthly, low-interest installments. You can thus manage an extraction’s cost over time instead of all at once.
In the end, you can trust Infinity Dental Care to help with your tooth extraction. We’ll do everything possible to make treatment budget-friendly, all for your smile’s sake! So, go ahead and book a visit to our office — your tooth will thank you!
Tooth Extractions FAQs
Tooth extractions can make even the most comfortable dental patients a little bit nervous, so if you have one coming up, it’s completely understandable to have questions. Thankfully, Dr. Kalluri and the rest of the team at Infinity Dental Care are here to help you feel at ease.
We’ll be happy to address any questions that you have at a consultation, but until then, here are answers to some of the most common ones.
Does Getting a Tooth Extracted Hurt?
The thing that makes patients most anxious about dentistry, and tooth extractions in particular, is a fear that the procedure will hurt. Thankfully, there isn’t anything to worry about—dental anesthetics are remarkably strong, which means that there’s unlikely to be any discomfort associated with the procedure.
Many patients report some tenderness while the surgical area heals, but we’ll be happy to work with you to make sure you’re as comfortable as possible. We’ll give you a list of instructions for proper aftercare, so be sure to follow those carefully to heal as quickly as possible. And if you notice any signs of an infection, like a fever, be sure to contact us immediately.
What’s the Difference Between Tooth Extractions and Wisdom Tooth Surgery?
While the difference may not be apparent at first glance, tooth extractions and wisdom tooth surgery technically aren’t the same procedure. While both aim to remove problematic teeth, they’re dissimilar in both their use and the way they’re performed.
Wisdom tooth surgery is, as the name suggests, only performed on wisdom teeth. Tooth extractions, on the other hand, are done on any tooth that urgently needs to be removed. Wisdom teeth are also removed via surgery, because without surgical intervention it may be difficult to get rid of teeth that are impacted below the surface. Tooth extractions are done mostly on teeth that have sprouted, meaning comparatively little work is done below the gum line.
What’s Recovery from Tooth Extractions Like?
After the surgery is complete, we will give you a list of important instructions to keep in mind to make healing easier. In the interest of staving off infection and recovering quickly, here are some examples of things to keep in mind:
- Rest up—avoid strenuous activity in the days after surgery.
- Protect the clot that forms. Try not to touch it with your tongue, and don’t chew on that side of the mouth.
- Don’t drink through straws, smoke, vape, or do anything else that causes suction in the mouth. This can pull the clot off of the wound.
- Keep your mouth clean. Stay up with regular dental hygiene and rinse with saltwater occasionally.
While everyone’s healing process looks a little bit different, if you stick to these guidelines you should start feeling a bit better after around 3 days.
Can I Leave the Space Empty After a Tooth Extraction?
You might not see the point in replacing a tooth in the back of the mouth where no one can see it. However, even missing a single tooth can hamper your ability to grind up food properly, which may mean that you’re not getting all the nutrients that you can out of your diet.
You also make use of your teeth when speaking, so missing one in certain parts of the mouth can cause a kind of lisp. If you want to be able to speak normally again, we can talk with you about what kind of tooth replacement option is a good idea for you.