Tooth Extractions – Hillsboro, OR
Building a Smile with
a Healthy Foundation
At Wolfe Dental Hillsboro, we understand that there’s no substitution quite like your natural pearly whites, which is why we always try to preserve them whenever possible. However, in some situations that involve severely decayed and damaged teeth, a tooth extraction in Hillsboro may be the only way that we can stop a problem from spreading and causing additional tooth loss. Fortunately, we offer several tooth replacement solutions to rebuild your smile to be healthier than before!
Why Choose Wolfe Dental Hillsboro for Tooth Extractions?
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Common Reasons for Tooth Extraction
There are a few reasons why we may suggest removing a tooth. Some of these include:
- It’s impacted below the surface of the gums and could become infected.
- Gum disease has caused your gums to recede resulting in bone deterioration, causing your tooth to become loose.
- Severe dental damage has impacted your tooth beyond repair.
- You need orthodontic treatment, but your teeth are overcrowded.
- A root canal wasn’t able to treat an infected tooth.
How Do Tooth Extractions Work?
We begin tooth extractions by administering local anesthesia in the affected area. Once we’ve confirmed that you’re completely numb, we’ll use an elevator to gently lift the tooth free of its socket. Then, using a pair of dental forceps, we’ll gently wiggle it out of its socket, breaking it free of any connecting tissues. Finally, we’ll patch up the area applying a piece of sterile gauze. This will help a blood clot form and allow the extraction site to safely heal.
Understanding the Cost of Tooth Extractions
While extractions are relatively affordable, it can be stressful to deal with losing a tooth and figuring out how you’ll pay for it at the same time. At our Hillsboro practice, we’re here to help make your experience stress-free on every level, including your finances. Read more below to learn more about the cost of tooth extractions and discover how we can help you get the care you need.
Factors That Can Affect Tooth Extraction Cost
Without a consultation with our Hillsboro dental office, it’s difficult to give you an accurate cost estimate for your extraction. This is because there are several factors we take into account when billing for your procedure. For example:
- The Location of Your Tooth: Extracting a tooth near the front of your mouth is much easier than doing the same for one near the back. Back teeth have stronger roots and are harder to access.
- The Complexity of Your Procedure: Simple extractions, where the tooth is fully erupted, are easier to price than more complex extractions for impacted teeth. Our team can perform the oral surgery necessary to extract these teeth, but it comes with a higher cost.
- Additional Treatments: Once your tooth is extracted, it will need to be replaced fairly quickly. Depending on your choice of prosthetic, your dental insurance provider, or specific financing options, this additional cost can vary widely.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Tooth Extractions?
It’s very common for dental insurance to cover tooth extractions, especially if they’re medically necessary. In most cases, depending on your provider, your plan may cover anywhere from 50% to 80% of the cost of your extraction. However, it’s always best to confirm details with your insurance company before treatment begins. If you need help, our team is more than happy to look over your benefits and help you make the most of them.
Other Options for Making Tooth Extractions Affordable
We strive to make tooth extractions accessible for all our patients. That’s why our team at Wolfe Dental Hillsboro offers several great options for lowering the cost of your care, including:
- Flexible Financing: We’ve partnered with CareCredit and Cherry, two trusted financing companies that allow you to pay for your treatment up-front and split the balance across several monthly installments.
- In-House Membership Plan: Our Wolfe Dental Membership Plan provides similar benefits to dental insurance, but without all the hoops to jump through. You’ll enjoy instant access, discounts on all our treatments, and preventive care at no additional cost.
- Periodic Special Offers: We also offer regular special offers on our website that could significantly reduce your costs for some aspects of your treatment. Be sure to check back often to see if we have an applicable discount.
Tooth Extractions FAQs
Does Having a Tooth Extracted Hurt?
Many patients are hesitant to commit to dental procedures because they are afraid they will hurt, and tooth extractions are no exception. The team at Wolfe Dental will only perform a tooth extraction after the patient has received an appropriate anesthetic to ensure that they feel no pain, but you can expect to feel some soreness and discomfort for a few days after the procedure. The best way to stay comfortable while recovering is to strictly adhere to the detailed aftercare instructions we will provide. However, contact our office if your pain is getting worse instead of better after several days or if you notice signs of infection like fever, fatigue, chills, or a nasty taste in your mouth.
What Is Recovering After Tooth Extraction Like?
You will need to adhere to a detailed list of aftercare instructions to stay comfortable and prevent complications after having your tooth removed. The most important part of ensuring successful healing is protecting the blood clot that will form over the surgical wound by refraining from spitting, drinking through straws, and chewing near the operative site. If this clot is broken, the patient will experience a severely painful condition called dry socket that will leave them more vulnerable to infection. Since intense exercise can disturb the blood clot, it’s usually best to avoid strenuous activity for several days after extraction. It’s also important to keep the mouth clean by practicing excellent oral hygiene and rinsing regularly with salt water, but make sure you have approval from our dentist before doing so.
Can I Leave the Space Empty After a Tooth Extraction?
If the tooth being removed is far in the back of the mouth where others are unlikely to see it, a patient may be tempted to forgo replacing it after having it extracted. Unfortunately, this can lead to a range of health issues like gum injuries, dental misalignments, oral infections, jawbone atrophy, and further tooth loss. Losing even a single tooth can also hinder the patient’s ability to chew or speak clearly and leave them susceptible to overall health issues like indigestion and malnutrition. It is ideal to have a tooth replaced as soon as possible after extraction, so we’ll be happy to help you find the best way to restore your smile after you have finished healing.
What Risks Are Involved with Tooth Extractions?
Tooth extractions are incredibly safe, but every procedure comes with certain risks. If the patient does not adhere to their dentist’s instructions after having a tooth removed, they may develop nasty oral infections that may lead to dangerous conditions like pneumonia or sepsis if they are not addressed promptly. If the blood clot protecting the surgical site is disturbed, the patient may develop a severely painful condition called dry socket that can significantly delay the healing process. Thankfully, you can minimize your chances of experiencing these issues by strictly adhering to your postoperative instructions.