Tooth Extractions – Ellicott City, MD
Badly Damaged Tooth? We’ll Gently Remove It
Keeping patients’ smiles whole and healthy is one of our top priorities at Ellicott City Smiles Dental Group. Helping patients preserve their healthy, natural teeth is a key element to maintaining the optimal level of oral health. Unfortunately, that is simply not always possible. When tooth removal is the best option to maintain oral health, our Ellicott City dentist and team are happy to offer surgical and non-surgical tooth extraction services to keep patients’ smiles healthy. If you want to learn more about tooth extractions in our Ellicott City, MD dental office or any of our other treatment options, call to schedule an appointment with us. We’ll review your case and, if removal is the best option, provide safe and comfortable tooth extractions in our welcoming dental office.
Why Choose Ellicott City Smiles Dental Group For Tooth Extractions?
- Board-Certified Periodontist and Prosthodontist on Staff
- Multiple Options for Sedation Available
- High-Quality Restorations Available
Why Tooth Extraction is Recommended
We will always try to save a tooth, but there are some cases where we do recommend extraction, including:
- When severe decay or damage destroys the majority of tooth structure
- In preparation for denture creation
- Prior to beginning orthodontic treatment for patients with crowded teeth
- When baby teeth are unable to fall out on their own
- When a tooth is impacted or unable to erupt from the gums
- When wisdom teeth, or third molars, lack space in the jaw line
How Tooth Removal is Performed
Tooth removals will be performed either by pulling fully erupted teeth or surgically for teeth that cannot be pulled. Pulling simply means we numb the area and use a specialized tool to grasp onto the tooth. We shift the tooth back and forth and pull it free from the supportive tissue. Surgical extractions may include cutting into soft tissue and breaking the tooth into smaller piece prior to extraction. All of these procedures will be performed while your smile is completely numb, so you will feel completely comfortable no matter how advanced the tooth extraction plan.
Caring for Your Smile After Tooth Extraction
Following the removal of one or more teeth, our knowledgeable dentistry team members will work with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure you make a complete recovery. The most important step in any post-operative care plan is to get plenty of rest. You will experience some bleeding at the extraction site for the first 48 hours after your treatment. Use gauze to absorb the blood and slow bleeding. Change out your gauze every few hours or each time it becomes saturated. Use ice at 20 minute intervals to relieve pain and reduce swelling. Take your pain relievers as directed to ensure you stay comfortable and to avoid excessive swelling or inflammation. Call our dental office immediately if you notice any of the following warning signs of tooth extraction complications:
- Pain increases rather than decreases.
- You begin to feel sensitivity at the extraction site when air passes over it.
- Rather than covered with a blood clot, the socket appears dry and empty.
- You see infected tissue that may be swollen or have obvious sores.
- You notice a foul odor in your mouth even after your oral hygiene routine.
- You experience fever, nausea, and other symptoms of infection.
Understanding the Cost of Tooth Extractions
While tooth extraction is sometimes the best way to end a patient’s chronic pain and protect their oral health, it’s perfectly reasonable to want to know what you can expect to pay before you commit to the treatment. At Ellicott City Smiles, we strive to ensure that the process is as transparent and stress-free as possible. Here’s a brief guide to how tooth extractions are priced and how we can help you fit your treatment into your budget.
Factors That Can Affect Tooth Extraction Cost
Though we cannot provide you with a proper cost estimate until our team has been able to examine your troubled tooth in our office, there are a few factors that will probably determine most of the final price. These include:
- The number of teeth removed: Each individual tooth extraction will be noted on your bill.
- The location of the teeth removed: Teeth farther back in the mouth are harder to reach and more difficult to remove, so extracting them is more costly.
- The complexity of the case: Complications like impaction can make some teeth more difficult and costly to remove.
- The replacement chosen: It’s best to replace lost teeth as soon as possible to prevent jawbone atrophy, dental misalignments, and other oral health issues. The cost of any restoration placed will be represented on your bill.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Tooth Extractions?
Dental insurance policies typically cover tooth extractions by about 50% after the deductible has been met since they are usually only performed when medically necessary. However, your plan may impose limits such as covering only a certain number of teeth in a year or a waiting period before the policy takes effect. Our team will be happy to go over your insurance plan and determine what it will pay for during your consultation.
How to Make Tooth Extractions Affordable
We understand that some patients who need teeth removed may be uninsured or underinsured, and we’re eager to help these people find a way to fit their treatments into their budgets. We offer options like:
- Financing: We partner with CareCredit and Cherry to give our patients flexible financing options that break their bills into small monthly payments with little to no interest.
- Our VIP Savings Plan: For $50 dollars a year, you or someone you love can receive 25% off preventative services and essential dental treatments such as oral surgery.
We’ll be more than glad to provide you with a cost estimate and help you navigate your insurance and financing options during your consultation.