Are you feeling uncomfortable eating your favorite snack or speaking to your friends? You may have a tooth that’s causing you pain and discomfort. Want a solution for this? A tooth extraction may be the perfect solution. It’s a common dental procedure that involves removing a tooth that’s severely damaged, decayed, or infected.
Having a tooth pulled out from your mouth might make you feel a bit uneasy, but understanding the cost, procedure, risks, and recovery process can help alleviate your concerns.
In this blog, we will dive deep into tooth extractions, providing you with all the information you need to make an informed decision. From the cost of the procedure to the recovery process, we’ve got you covered. So, keep reading and get ready to say goodbye to your tooth troubles and hello to a beautiful, healthy smile.”
What Exactly is Tooth Extraction?
Tooth Extraction, also called exodontia or tooth-pulling, dental extraction is completely removing a tooth from its socket. Tooth extractions are performed as a last resort when a tooth is too severely damaged to be saved by other dental treatments.
A simple extraction refers to removing a tooth that is visible in the mouth. Surgical extractions are performed on teeth buried beneath gum tissues, such as impacted wisdom teeth. Sometimes, dentists remove the teeth to resolve crowding issues.
Reasons for Tooth Extractions
- Large Cavities: Large areas of tooth decay can cause pulpitis, inflammation, and infection of the pulp (living tissue) inside your tooth. Pulpitis is the root cause of a toothache, progressing to irreversible pulpitis.
- Wisdom Teeth: Wisdom teeth, also called third molars, can grow incorrectly, causing issues with crowding, developing cavities, and causing pain. Impacted wisdom teeth also pose the risk of infection, inflammation, or gum irritation if not removed.
- Cracked/Broken Tooth: Depending on the level of damage, your dentist may recommend getting your broken or cracked tooth extracted.
- Periodontal Disease: The advanced stages of gum disease can loosen teeth within the mouth. These loose and weakened teeth will continue to cause issues until they’re removed.
- Overlap: A patient’s permanent teeth may come in before their “baby teeth” have fallen out, a condition known as hypodontia. To make room for permanent teeth, your dentist may remove the smaller teeth.
- Infection: In some cases, harmful bacteria has spread into the tooth roots past what root canal therapy can treat.
Procedure Involved in Tooth Extraction
Simple extraction
During the procedure, your dentist will give you a local anesthetic to numb the area around your tooth so you’ll feel only pressure, not pain. To remove the tooth, the dentist uses an instrument called an elevator.
Surgical extraction
You will likely receive both local and intravenous anesthesia, which makes you calm and relaxed. To make you unconscious during the procedure, your dentist will give you general anesthesia, depending on your medical conditions.
Your dentist or the oral surgeon will cut your gum with a small incision. They may need to remove bone around your tooth or cut it before it can be extracted.
Average Tooth Extraction Cost
The tooth extraction cost may vary depending on the impacted tooth. Simple extraction usually costs between $75 and $200 per tooth and more, depending on the type of anesthesia you need.
To remove the impacted teeth, you need to pay a significantly higher amount that can land anywhere between $800 and $4,000. Where you live can also affect how much you pay for the procedure, as many services are tailored to the area’s cost of living.
Are There Any Risks Involved in Tooth Extraction Procedure?
Like any medical procedure, tooth extractions carry some risks. The most common risks include bleeding, infection, pain, and swelling. In rare cases, nerve damage or dry socket can occur.
Other Risks Included in Tooth Extraction Procedure
- Bleeding that lasts longer than 12 hours.
- Severe fever and chills, signaling an infection.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Cough.
- Chest pain and shortness of breath.
- Swelling and redness at the surgical site.
Tooth Extraction Healing Time
Recovery time for a simple extraction process is about 2-3 days. You can usually return to normal activities after two days. The extraction site will take 14-21 days to heal completely.
The tooth extraction healing time using a surgical procedure is generally 7-10 days. After four to five days, you can expect to return to your routine. It’ll take up to four to six months for the extraction site to heal completely.
Aftercare for Tooth Extraction
- Elevating the Head: The blood vessels around the extraction site may throb and pulse while lying flat, shortening the healing time. Use a wedge pillow at night to elevate your head and a travel pillow during the day to keep your head elevated for 2-3 days after the extraction process.
- Placing a Tea Bag on the Extraction Site: To aid blood clotting and help your tooth extraction site heal faster, put a damp, black tea bag (not herbal tea) on your wound.
- Rinse with Saltwater: After 24 hours, gently swish a warm saltwater solution in your mouth to keep the extraction site clean and support fast healing. Place a teaspoon of salt (like Himalayan salt) at a time into warm water until it no longer dissolves, then allow the solution to rinse your mouth.
- Don’t Smoke: Avoid smoking while you recover; use this time to kick the habit if you can because smoking will increase your recovery time considerably.
Get Relief from Your Decayed Tooth at Osseo Family Dental
Tooth extraction is a common procedure performed by a general dentist or an oral surgeon. Your dentist recommends it when a tooth is severely damaged, decayed, or infected and cannot be saved by a root canal or other treatment options.
The cost, procedure, risks, and recovery of a tooth extraction can vary, but the recovery process can be smooth with proper care and attention. Visit Osseo Family Dental for your tooth extraction. We have a team of dental professionals who take the best action for your case after a proper examination.
Book an appointment by calling us at 7634252626, or write your queries to info@osseofamilydental.com. You can also visit our office at 30 Central Ave, Osseo, MN, 55369.