Tooth Extractions – Alexandria, VA

What Are Tooth Extractions?

An extraction is the surgical removal of a tooth. As a rule of thumb, it’s typically best to try and keep as much of your natural oral structures intact as possible, but there are many situations in which a problematic tooth can cause more trouble than it’s worth. In those cases, your oral surgeon can perform an extraction to remove the offending tooth and preserve the integrity of your smile.

Most people need at least one surgical extraction over the course of their life, and the team of professionals at Northern Virginia Oral, Maxillofacial & Implant Surgery take great care to ensure that your extraction is safe, comfortable, and a positive experience.

Reasons for Tooth Extractions

Some of the more common reasons your oral surgeon might suggest an extraction include:

• Full-mouth Rehabilitation - If you’re going through a full-mouth rehabilitation, your oral surgeon might recommend extractions to remove teeth with damage or infection, often from periodontal disease, that restorations or endodontic therapy cannot treat.
• Dental Implant or Denture Preparation - If you’re replacing teeth with standard dental implants, All-on-4® implants, or a partial or full-mouth denture, your oral surgeon might need to remove damaged or infected teeth to make room for your new restorations.
• Wisdom Teeth Problems - Most people don’t have enough room in their smiles for extra molars, making the extraction of wisdom teeth necessary. If left alone, wisdom teeth can lead to several health complications, including infection and crowding issues.
• Impacted Canines - After the wisdom teeth, the upper eyeteeth, or canines, are the second most likely teeth to become impacted. If your permanent canine is having problems erupting through your gums, your oral surgeon might recommend extracting it to preserve the health of the rest of your smile.

Tooth Extractions Aftercare

After tooth extraction, the socket from which it was removed will develop a blood clot. This clot is essential to your healing process, and all efforts should be taken to ensure that it’s allowed to form properly. Your oral surgeon might suggest refraining from creating any suction pressure in your mouth, like you would when drinking through a straw, and being careful to not touch your extraction site with your fingers or a toothbrush.

Your oral surgeon will give you specific and detailed instructions for your extraction aftercare to ensure a speedy recovery and prevent complications, like a dry socket. They’ll also discuss tooth replacement options, like implants, a denture, or a bridge.

Get started with extractions today by scheduling a consultation at Northern Virginia Oral, Maxillofacial & Implant Surgery. You can book your visit by phone or online.

Understanding the Cost of Tooth Extractions

If you need a tooth extraction, you may worry the process is costly. After all, it isn’t every day that you get a pearly white pulled. You might view a rare treatment like extraction as pricier than standard ones. Truthfully, though, care might not charge what you think. The cost of tooth extractions varies by patient; you’ll need to see our surgeons for an estimate. Plus, our office will strive to make your visit affordable. To learn more, keep reading or call us for details.

Factors That Can Affect Tooth Extraction Cost

Before treatment, our office will perform an oral exam on your problem tooth. This step lets us examine factors that impact the final extraction price. These include the following:

• Tooth Type, Location, and Number: As you’d imagine, it’s expensive to extract several teeth instead of one. Plus, some chompers cost more to pull than others.
• The Extraction’s Difficulty: Treatment shouldn't be too pricey if you only need a simple extraction. However, you’ll have to pay more for a surgical one involving gum tissue removal.
• Your Need for Sedation: Technically, a local anesthetic is included in an extraction’s base price. That said, treatment will cost more if you want to add dental sedation as well.
• Tooth Replacement: Naturally, following up extraction with tooth replacement – an implant, for example – will add to your visit’s price.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Tooth Extractions?

Because tooth extractions are major procedures, dental insurance will usually cover them. In particular, most plans meet 50% of their cost after the deductible is met.

All that said, exceptions always exist. Your own plan may cover a limited number of teeth. On the other hand, it could involve a lengthy waiting period before coverage starts. Therefore, confirm your benefits before pursuing treatment. Our office will happily help you do so if necessary.

Other Options for Making Tooth Extractions Affordable

Whether you have insurance or not, other ways exist to make extractions affordable. The best one is to use a financing option provided by your local practice. For example, our own office provides:

• Special Offers – Our practice is currently running two relevant offers. The first is a complimentary dental implant consult. Meanwhile, the second is monthly financing of wisdom tooth extraction.
• Flexible Financing  – We happen to work with Care Credit, a reputable third-party financier. Through them, you can pay for treatment with monthly, low-interest installments. This approach lets you gradually meet an extraction’s cost instead of all at once.

Ultimately, tooth extraction can be affordable at Northern Virginia Oral, Maxillofacial & Implant Surgery. That being the case, book a consultation at our office today!