There are many different situations where it becomes necessary to remove a tooth. For example, some baby teeth may take root and not fall out when they should, leaving no room for the permanent teeth to emerge. Whatever the reason may be that you need to have a tooth extraction, our experienced dentists at Icon Dental Center take care of your tooth extraction needs smoothly and safely in our office.

Reasons for an Extraction

• Misshapen teeth
• Extra long roots
• Orthodontic correction
• Problematic wisdom teeth
• Extensive decay
• Infection or risk of infection
• Impacted wisdom teeth

Once we have determined that a tooth extraction is needed, we review the process with you. This tooth extraction procedure is typically very quick and you will be comfortably numb.  It is important that you follow our post-extraction instructions to ensure everything heals properly.

Types of Extractions

There are 3 different types of tooth extractions: simple, surgical and wisdom teeth extractions.

• Simple extractions are performed on a tooth that can be seen in the mouth. General dentists commonly do simple extractions.
• Surgical extractions are more complex tooth extractions and are commonly are done by oral surgeons or our periodontist. However, sometimes they are also done by general dentists.
• Wisdom teeth extractions are a very common type of tooth extraction and one most people are familiar with. Wisdom teeth, also called third molars, are often extracted either before or after they come in. They commonly come in during the late teens or early 20s. They need to be removed if they are decayed, cause pain or have a cyst or infection.

Are Extractions Painful?

The degree of pain following a tooth extraction may vary from patient to patient. Typically 3 things impact the amount of pain following tooth extractions:

• The amount of damage to the tissues that was required to get the tooth out.
• The amount of infection that was present to begin with. More infection equates to more pain.
• The patient: Sensitivity of a person’s tissue vary, some people have a higher pain threshold than others.

Dental insurance coverage for tooth extractions depends on your particular plan, though most plans provide some level of coverage for routine dental extractions. Contact your dental insurance plan carrier directly, or give us a call and we’ll gladly review the specifics of your coverage.