Tooth Extractions in Woodbridge

How Much Is a Tooth Extraction?

We base the total tooth extraction cost you’ll pay on the difficulty of extracting the tooth, your anesthesia choice and your dental insurance coverage. Please call us to learn more or to schedule an appointment.

What Are Surgical Extractions?

Surgical extractions are minor operations where an oral surgeon needs to remove a tooth which isn’t visible in the mouth. The oral surgeon will cut into the gum to reach a tooth which hasn’t come in or one that has broken at the gumline. They differ from dental extractions in which a dentist loosens a visible tooth and pulls it out.

When Is Getting a Tooth Pulled the Best Option?

Even though we try to avoid extractions, there are times when pulling a tooth is beneficial. We pull irreparable, broken and decayed teeth, teeth already loose from advanced gum disease and teeth which have to be removed in order to prepare the mouth for orthodontic treatment.

Will a Dentist Pull Out a Badly Fractured or Broken Tooth?

If you have a tooth damaged by trauma and the crack or break damages the root, an extraction is often the only option. It may also be the only option if your tooth is so badly decayed that a root canal isn’t possible. Please contact us if you need a dentist who will try his or her best to salvage your tooth, but who will pull it if necessary.

Why Do Dentists Sometimes Pull Baby Teeth?

Our dentist will remove a baby tooth which is infected or badly decayed and causing your child pain. He or she will also pull a baby tooth which won’t fall out on its own. If you’re looking for a gentle dentist who can put your child at ease, please call our office to set up an appointment.

When Is a Tooth Removal the Only Option with Advanced Gum Disease?

When you have advanced periodontal disease, you can lose bone which holds your tooth firmly in place. When this happens, it’s painful to bite or chew. Having our dentist remove the tooth stops the pain and lessens your chance of infection compared to letting the tooth fall out on its own.

Why Do Wisdom Teeth Often Need to Come Out?

Wisdom teeth are the third molars which emerge between the ages of 17 and 23. Sometimes they emerge without any problems, but this is rare. Often, they are impacted and can’t emerge or they emerge at an angle. If they come in at an angle because there is no room for them, they are challenging to keep clean. We rarely have room for a third set of molars because our diets have evolved over the centuries and our jaws have grown smaller. The dentist can pull wisdom teeth which have already emerged or they can refer patients with impacted wisdom teeth to an oral surgeon.

Can Teeth Extractions Relieve Overcrowding?

Yes, relieving overcrowding with extractions is common before getting braces. If you’re having orthodontic work done and need teeth extracted to give your teeth space to straighten, please contact our office to make an appointment.

What Do I Do After Having a Tooth Removed?

You’ll leave the office with a gauze pad over the hole to stop the bleeding. It should subside in about half an hour. Your dentist will suggest over-the-counter pain relievers to relieve any discomfort. When you leave our office, our dentist will also provide you with a list of things you should not engage in for the first 24 hours, including smoking, rinsing your mouth or drinking through a straw. These activities can dislodge the blot clot forming to close the extraction site which causes a painful problem called dry socket. Eat soft, cool foods for at least a day or until your dentist says you can resume your normal diet.

How Long Does an Extraction Take to Heal?

Take it easy the day after your extraction and avoid anything taxing. If you follow your aftercare instructions, you can expect your dental extraction site to heal in about a week to 10 days. You can usually return to work the next day. The tooth extraction healing time for molars and surgical extractions is longer.

If you’re looking for a new dentist committed to your comfort during a tooth extraction in Woodbridge, please call us at (703) 910-5020 to schedule an appointment.