Tooth Extractions – Long Beach, NY
Remove Troublesome Teeth to Protect Your Smile
Under normal circumstances, the dedicated team here at Dr. Glen’s Happy Teeth does everything we can to help you and your family build and maintain happy, healthy teeth and gums. However, sometimes a tooth becomes too decayed or damaged for standard treatments to be effective.
In these cases, we can remove troublesome teeth to protect your smile. Continue reading to learn more about why this procedure is sometimes necessary and what to expect, and please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have additional questions.
Why Choose Dr. Glen’s Happy Teeth for Tooth Extractions?
- Dental Team with Decades of Combined Experience
- General Anesthesia to Enhance Patient Comfort
- Flexible Financial Plans Available
Reasons Why Tooth Extractions Are Necessary
Many patients feel anxious when they learn their damaged tooth must be removed and question whether it’s truly necessary. Understanding the reason(s) we’ve recommended this service can potentially help ease your frayed nerves.
We might recommend this procedure in Long Beach to address one or more of the following concerns:
- Address severe damage or decay that can’t be effectively repaired with tooth-colored fillings, root canals, or dental crowns.
- Create space in your mouth for another treatment, like dentures or orthodontics, to be successful.
- Remove an impacted tooth that has become trapped in your gums or is causing infection.
- Prevent decay or disease from spreading to neighboring teeth, your gum tissues, or your jawbone.
- Make way for a child’s adult tooth if their primary tooth has not fallen out on its own.
The Process of Removing a Tooth
Although the procedure itself might vary somewhat depending on your unique circumstances, typically, you can expect our providers to begin your procedure by applying a local numbing agent. This prevents the nerves in your mouth from sending pain signals to your brain, so you might feel pressure while we work, but not outright discomfort. We also offer general anesthesia, if necessary, to help you remain relaxed throughout your visit.
Then, we’ll make a small incision in your gums to access the problematic tooth. For a simple extraction, we’ll place an ‘elevator’ to help lift it from its socket, then we can grasp it firmly with forceps and gently wiggle it free. If you’re having a molar or impacted tooth removed, there’s a chance you might require surgical extraction, which can involve breaking up the tooth to be removed safely without harming your jawbone.
Tooth Extraction Aftercare
Our team will provide post-operative instructions for you to follow that are designed to help you recover effectively while avoiding potential complications. For example, your mouth must form a blood clot over the site to avoid a painful condition known as dry socket.
Some common aftercare tips often include:
- Taking any prescribed medications, like antibiotics or pain relievers, exactly as directed.
- Avoid brushing your teeth for the first 24 hours. You can gently cleanse your mouth by rinsing with warm salt water instead.
- Don’t smoke cigarettes, vapes, or chew tobacco because nicotine suppresses your immune system and interferes with healing.
- Drink plenty of water, but steer clear of straws because the force of suction can dislodge the blood clot.
- Avoid strenuous exercise that elevates your heart rate or blood pressure.
- Prop your head up on pillows while sleeping to rest more comfortably.
Understanding the Cost of Tooth Extractions
When we recommend a tooth extraction to protect the overall health of your smile, we’ll take the time to make sure that you have an accurate idea of how much the procedure will cost. We’ll carefully examine your mouth and consider your situation as a whole before we give you an estimate of the amount you can expect to pay. On top of that, we can also review your payment options with you and help you come up with a strategy for making your tooth extraction as affordable as possible.
Factors That Can Affect Tooth Extraction Cost
One of the factors that can affect the price tag of your tooth extraction is the location of the tooth in question. Teeth near the back of the mouth tend to be more costly to remove than those at the front. This is because the back teeth are often more difficult to remove due to the number of roots they have and the thickness of the bone around them.
On top of that, the number of teeth involved in the extraction will have an impact on the final cost. Naturally, removing just one tooth typically costs less than removing multiple teeth.
Finally, once your tooth has been removed, you will need to decide whether you want to have it replaced. If you do decide to fill in the gap in your smile, you will need to account for the additional cost of a dental bridge, a partial denture, or a dental implant.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Tooth Extractions?
Since every dental insurance plan is different, you will need to review your benefits to make sure you have an accurate idea of what is or isn’t covered. Many dental insurance companies are often willing to pay around 50% of the total cost of a tooth extraction. However, you might be required to meet your deductible for the year before your insurance plan starts covering any treatments. If there’s anything you don’t fully understand about your dental insurance benefits, our team will be happy to review them with you.
How to Make Tooth Extractions Affordable
We’re willing to file claims for a wide variety of insurance plans so that our patients can save money on their care. That being said, we realize that not everyone has dental insurance. That’s why we offer an in-house membership plan that provides discounts for a variety of procedures. Thanks to this plan, you can enjoy more affordable dental care without having to worry about annual maximums and other insurance-related headaches.
If you would rather not have to pay the full cost of your tooth extraction up front, we can help you apply for affordable financing through Lending Tree. This option will let you pay for your treatment in a series of installments that are right for your budget.
Tooth Extractions FAQs
Is There an Alternative to a Tooth Extraction?
Many patients feel nervous about having their troublesome tooth removed and wonder whether any other procedures can repair the damage and preserve their dental health. For instance, if you have a broken or decayed tooth causing pain, sometimes a root canal can address the underlying problem. Then, a crown can be placed to protect the treated tooth from further harm.
However, if our team in Long Beach has recommended removing your tooth, then we’ve likely already determined that it’s too damaged for other services to be effective. We’re happy to discuss the reason for our recommendation and answer as many questions as you need to feel confident moving forward.
Does Getting a Tooth Extracted Hurt?
It’s natural to want to avoid procedures that might hurt, such as tooth extractions, but our team is here to assure you that we’ll do everything we can to help you feel comfortable throughout your visit.
For example, we’ll begin by numbing the area with a local anesthetic to prevent the nerves in your tooth from sending signals to your brain. You might feel some pressure while we work, but you shouldn’t experience outright discomfort.
That means you won’t have to worry about potential aches until after the medication wears off. It’s normal to feel sore and swollen for a few days, and you must follow our post-operative care instructions to help a blood clot form at the site. If it’s damaged or dislodged, you might develop a painful complication called dry socket. Usually, any associated aches can be safely addressed with the recommended dosage of an over-the-counter medication like ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
Can I Leave the Space Empty After My Tooth is Removed?
You might be tempted to leave the socket empty after your troublesome tooth is extracted to save on additional costs. However, we generally recommend filling the gap as soon as possible to avoid potential concerns that accompany tooth loss.
This is because a space in your grin can interfere with your ability to thoroughly bite and chew food to be easily swallowed and digested. You might also develop a lisp, slur, or other change to your speech patterns.
Not only that, but your remaining teeth are prone to drifting out of alignment, increasing the risk of developing cavities or sustaining injuries. Replacing your tooth helps everything remain in its rightful place and allows you to eat and speak more normally.
What Are the Options for Replacing My Missing Tooth?
Our team in Long Beach has multiple treatment options to replace your missing tooth, and we are happy to make a recommendation based on your unique circumstances. For instance, a partial denture can sometimes be used to replace a single tooth, but in many cases, we recommend a dental bridge instead. These restorations include the required number of pontics (artificial teeth) positioned between dental crowns at each end. They are cemented over the teeth on both sides of the space in your smile to close it.
Those seeking a more permanent solution may be good candidates for dental implants. This option involves surgically placing a support rod into your jaw, which eventually fuses with the bone to become a part of your mouth. Then, we provide a customized dental crown for a lifelike repair that lasts.