Tooth Extractions – Burke, VA
Quick Relief
from Troublesome Teeth
A beautiful smile is a priceless asset, and our team at Northern Virginia Oral, Maxillofacial & Implant Surgery will do anything they can to save your natural teeth. However, there comes a point where a tooth is beyond saving and can cause infections to spread to other parts of your mouth. When this happens, it may be best to have a tooth extraction to eliminate the pain such a tooth causes while protecting the patient’s oral health. Our team will ensure that you are comfortable during the process and know about your replacement options. Contact our office if you believe you need a tooth extraction.
Why Choose Northern Virginia Oral, Maxillofacial & Implant Surgery for Tooth Extractions?
- Highly Trained and Experienced Oral Surgeons
- Clean, Comfortable, and Courteous Office Environment
- In-House Dental Implant Services
Reasons Why Tooth Extractions Are Necessary
While our team in Burke reserves tooth extractions as a last resort, they can be necessary under certain circumstances. Your dental healthcare provider may recommend extraction if:
- The tooth is afflicted with a severe infection that can potentially spread to other teeth. You may notice this because it can result in a severe toothache.
- The tooth is severely weakened to the point where it cannot be repaired or support a dental restoration.
- You need orthodontic treatment but your teeth are too crowded to be realigned.
- Your ailing teeth need to be removed to make room for dentures.
Rest assured, we’ll let you know the exact reasoning for your tooth extraction so that you can head into the process with confidence.
The Process of Removing a Tooth
The tooth extraction process begins with a thorough oral exam that often includes X-rays. Once we’ve considered the severity of the problem and all treatment options available, we may recommend extraction if the tooth cannot be saved.
If the tooth has already completely erupted, we can perform a simple extraction. For this procedure, we will numb your mouth before we incrementally loosen the tooth until we’re able to gently and safely extract it.
If the tooth has not erupted yet or has failed to erupt properly, as is often the case with wisdom teeth, a surgical extraction may be necessary. After numbing your mouth, our team will remove some gum and bone tissue to gain access to the troubled tooth before extracting it. Sometimes we’ll have to remove the tooth in several pieces to ensure the safety of the surrounding tissues.
Tooth Extraction Aftercare
Our team will provide you with detailed instructions for caring for your mouth after tooth extractions. To ensure your recovery is as speedy and smooth as possible, take care to:
- Refrain from smoking, spitting, drinking through a straw, or brushing the surgical area for the first twenty-four hours after extraction. These actions can distress the wound and dislodge the blood clot protecting it, causing a painful condition called dry socket.
- Keep your head elevated when sleeping for the first few days after the procedure.
- Avoid chewing over the surgical area. Stick to soft foods or liquids like yogurt, soup, smoothies, mashed potatoes, or scrambled eggs.
- To manage any post-surgical discomfort, take any medicines as prescribed or use over-the-counter pain relievers.
Understanding the Cost of Tooth Extractions
Dental treatments can be an investment, so it’s understandable that you’d want to have an idea of what a tooth extraction would cost. Many factors influence the total price of this service, making it difficult to pin down an exact number without a consultation. However, at Northern Virginia Oral, Maxillofacial & Implant Surgery, we do our best to help make dental treatments more affordable. To better understand the cost of a tooth extraction, you can read through the information below – and don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions!
Factors That Can Affect Tooth Extraction Cost
As noted, there are many different factors that could influence the overall price of your tooth extraction. To simplify it, we’ve put together a brief list of some examples:
- Quantity: The more teeth you need removed, the more you’ll likely pay for treatment.
- Location: Back molars are trickier to extract than a front tooth, which means more service time and a couple extra dollars.
- Extraction type: There’s more than one way to remove a tooth! A simple extraction is generally less expensive than an impacted extraction, because as the name implies, they’re less involved.
- Replacement selection: Last but not least, it’s important to replace your tooth with a dental restoration. Depending on which treatment you choose, you could end up paying more – or less.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Tooth Extractions?
Dental insurance can be confusing, which is why we’re always willing to help our patients navigate their plans. It’s important to understand that each individual policy is different, but in general, dental insurance companies will cover about 50% of tooth extraction costs. There are typically some limitations to this, such as needing to meet your annual deductible before your coverage will go into effect. That’s also something we can help you figure out, so don’t hesitate to give us a call to ensure you get the most out of your insurance!
Other Options for Making Tooth Extractions Affordable
We proudly accept several types of dental insurance plans, but also know that not everyone has access to these benefits. If you need alternative ways to afford your tooth extraction, we also offer:
- CareCredit financing, which allows patients to break down their overall cost into smaller monthly payments.
- A 0% monthly financing special for wisdom tooth extraction that starts at just $199 per month.
- A complimentary dental implant consultation for eligible patients.
To learn more about these options, give our office a call! We’d be happy to help find ways to make your treatment work with your budget.