Tooth Extractions – Greenwood, SC

Find Relief from Painful Teeth

While human teeth are incredibly strong and durable, they can be compromised by severe injuries or advanced infections, and it may be necessary to remove a tooth that cannot be saved with restorative treatment. Extracting a troubled tooth can prevent a host of oral health issues like chronic pain and destructive secondary infections, and you can rest assured that extraction is the best thing for your health if your dentist is recommending it. Here’s a quick look at how the extraction process works from the friendly team at Tylan Creek Family Dentistry.

Why Choose Tylan Creek Family Dentistry for Tooth Extractions?

Skilled and Compassionate Dental Team
Prevent Serious Oral Infections
Insurance Welcomed

Reasons Why Tooth Extractions Are Necessary

Tooth extraction is typically recommended as a last resort when a compromised tooth cannot be saved with restorative treatment like fillings or a root canal, but there are some cases when healthy teeth must be removed to protect the patient’s oral health. You may need an extraction due to:

Advanced dental infections such as those that cause severe toothaches
Injuries that expose the soft pulp tissue inside the tooth
Needing to make room for dentures or other restorations
Not having enough room in the mouth for necessary orthodontic treatment
A child’s primary tooth not falling out on its own
The tooth not emerging properly from the gum tissue

Neglecting to have a tooth that cannot be saved extracted can lead to dangerous secondary infections such as dental gangrene and sepsis.

The Process of Removing a Tooth

The team at Tylan Creek Family Dentistry will only perform a tooth extraction after the patient has received an appropriate anesthetic to ensure their comfort throughout the process, and some people may also benefit from receiving sedation to help them stay calm and still. Once the patient is suitably numb, our skilled dentist will use a precise device called an elevator to lift the troubled tooth from the gums and work it loose from its connective tissue with forceps. It’s best to replace a removed tooth with a customized restoration such as a denture, bridge, or implant as soon as possible, and we’ll be happy to discuss your replacement options during your consultation at our Greenwood office.

Tooth Extraction Aftercare

After having a tooth removed, it is important to keep the extraction site clean and avoid disturbing the healing tissues there. We’ll be sure to provide you with detailed aftercare instructions to help ensure your comfort and a smooth healing process, and these will probably include:

Taking medications as prescribed.
Refraining from tobacco and alcohol use.
Preventing dry socket, a severely painful condition that leaves the patient vulnerable to infections. You’ll have to avoid drinking through a straw and spitting.
Resting for several days since strenuous exercise can stress the healing tissues.
Propping up the head with pillows when laying down to prevent discomfort.

Replacing lost teeth as soon as possible can help prevent a host of oral and overall health issues like dental drift, uneven enamel wear, indigestion, malnutrition, and further tooth loss.

Understanding the Cost of Tooth Extractions

Oftentimes, patients have two questions for us when they hear that they need a tooth extracted. The first is, “Will it hurt?” and the second is, “How much will it cost?” Rest assured, our Greenwood dental team will go above and beyond to make the process as painless as possible, including when it comes time to navigate the financial side of your care. If you are interested in learning more about the price until your appointment at our office, read on!

Factors That Can Affect Tooth Extraction Cost

Patients often assume that there’s a flat fee. However, there are several factors that we need to consider when creating your treatment plan, including:

How many teeth need to be extracted: After all, the more teeth that need to be removed, the higher the price will be.

The type and location of the tooth: Usually, extracting a molar costs more than extracting a front tooth.
The type of extraction needed: If the tooth in question is trapped underneath the gumline, then a surgical extraction is necessary, which typically costs more than a simple extraction.
The tooth-replacement solution you choose: Usually, dental bridges and dentures cost less than dental implants.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Tooth Extractions?

Good news: dental insurance providers typically cover 50% of the cost of tooth extractions. So, if you are insured, don’t hesitate to provide us with your membership information! We’re proud to process and file dental insurance for most major providers, and we’d be happy to help you understand and utilize your benefits to the fullest. That way, navigating the ins and outs of your coverage is significantly easier.

How to Make Tooth Extractions Affordable

Don’t have dental insurance? Don’t let that stop you from getting the emergency dental care you need! After all, there are several other ways you can make the cost fit into your budget, including:

Joining Our In-House Dental Savings Plan – Doing so only takes a few minutes and comes with several perks, including a 20% discount on several treatments that are completed at our office.
Signing Up for CareCredit – CareCredit is a trusted third-party financier that offers convenient payment plans, and many of them have little-to-no interest attached!

If you are interested in learning more about the financial solutions we offer, or if you are interested in getting an estimate of the cost of your care, we recommend taking the next step: calling our office. That way, a friendly member of our team can answer questions, ease concerns, and schedule an appointment.

Tooth Extractions FAQs

Does Getting a Tooth Extraction Hurt?

Many patients feel nervous when they learn that they need to have a troublesome tooth removed because they worry the procedure might be long or agonizing. Rest assured, our team in Greenwood understands that you might be anxious, and we will do everything we can to help you feel calm and relaxed throughout your appointment.

For example, we’ll numb the area with a local anesthetic before starting your procedure, so you might feel some pressure while we work, but not outright pain. We also offer two types of dental sedation, so that if you’re not a good candidate for one of the options for whatever reason, you might still benefit from the other.

It’s normal to develop aches and inflammation after your procedure, but following our team’s post-operative instructions can help you recover effectively while avoiding potential side effects. For example, if the blood clot that forms over the site is damaged or dislodged, you might develop a painful condition called dry socket.

Can I Smoke After My Extraction Procedure?

Many patients who use vapes or cigarettes wonder whether it’s safe or acceptable to smoke after having their tooth extracted. You might think this is a harmless habit, but unfortunately, tobacco products contain nicotine, which hinders healing. It suppresses your immune system, so your body can't deliver infection-fighting cells to your mouth, increasing the likelihood of developing an infection or other issues.

Furthermore, the force of suction of taking a drag can damage the blood clot that’s essential for recovery. As a result, most experts advise waiting until your gums have healed completely before resuming smoking.

Can I Leave the Socket Empty?

If you’re hoping to reduce out-of-pocket expenses or simply aren’t feeling overly eager to undergo another complex procedure, you might consider waiting to replace your recently removed tooth. However, there are complications from tooth loss you might not have considered that might impact your decision.

For example, your remaining teeth are prone to shifting out of alignment to fill in the empty space, which can result in cavities, injuries, or TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorders. Not only that, but you might struggle to eat or speak normally with a gap in your grin. Our team is happy to discuss the replacement options with you so you can make an informed decision.

What Are My Options for Replacing My Missing Tooth?

Are you curious what the options are for replacing your extracted tooth? Our team offers several different options, outlined in more detail below:

Dental bridges. These tooth-colored oral appliances contain the correct number of artificial teeth positioned between a dental crown on each side that anchors to healthy abutment teeth or dental implants located on either side of the space in your smile.
This is the tried-and-true solution for tooth loss, and though a single extraction might not require a full set, our team can also design partial dentures to rebuild your smile’s appearance and functionality.
Dental implants. We also have the expertise and state-of-the-art technology to surgically place and restore dental implants, which are the only option that are surgically placed in your jawbone, providing a more permanent solution for tooth loss.