Tooth Extraction for Damaged or Decayed Teeth in Leesburg, VA

We Change Lives By Creating Beautiful Smiles

Extract Problem, Diseased, or Decayed Teeth

When people first hear they need a tooth extracted, it often leads to unsettling feelings. Although it may sound scary at first, the actual procedure is pretty routine and is often imperative to save the oral health (and even overall health) of a patient. Teeth may be removed due to bacteria, decay, trauma, or potential issues caused by the eruption of wisdom teeth. Whatever the case may be, tooth extraction is not taken lightly and is often a last resort.

Once the tooth has been removed, your dentist will consider replacement options. The replacement will help to provide the stability and strength your smile needs, while also improving the aesthetics of your smile.

2 Different Types of Tooth Extraction & How They Work

There are two ways that a tooth can be extracted. Depending on the severity of the damage to the tooth or whether or not the tooth has grown above the gum line, your dentist can either recommend a surgical tooth extraction or a regular tooth extraction.

Simple tooth extraction:

In most cases, a tooth that has grown past or above the gum line and has not gone through any sort of extreme trauma will most likely be removed simply. If the tooth has erupted through the gum line but has been broken, it may be easier to perform a surgical procedure for this issue. A simple tooth extraction is usually performed by the dentist using a number of dental pliers. Before the dentist starts, he or she will ensure the tooth and the surrounding area are completely numb using a local anesthetic. Next, the dentist will try to uproot the tooth by using a number of tools to loosen the tooth underneath the gum line. When the tooth is loose enough, the dentist will pluck the tooth out with ease. The dental professional may also add a couple of dental stitches that will dissolve within a few days.

Surgical tooth extraction:

A surgical extraction is typically needed if a tooth hasn’t broken through the gum line. This type of extraction is more popularly used when a dentist is extracting wisdom teeth. A surgical extraction may also be needed when a tooth has undergone some trauma and is broken into multiple parts. The reason this form of extraction is considered surgical is that the dental professional will need to make an incision along the gum line in order to reach the tooth. In some extreme cases, the dentist might even need to cut into the bone to ensure all remnants of the tooth have been removed. The dental professional will numb the needed area, and a form of sedation will also be used to ensure the patient is pain-free during the whole duration of the procedure. The dentist will then use a number of dental tools to cut into the gum line and loosen up the tooth and remove it, in the same fashion as a simple tooth extraction.

Call Our Office Today At (703) 723-7810

Extraction Aftercare

After an extraction, your dentist will go over a number of different tips to help ensure a speedy recovery. If a patient has a surgical extraction, he or she will likely have been under sedation during the procedure. If this is the case, the patient must ensure a family member or friend is there to drive them home after the procedure. If the extraction was a simple one, the local anesthetic would only numb the needed area without affecting any other part of the body.

During a surgical extraction, the dentist will usually insert a couple of dissolvable stitches in the extraction site. It is incredibly important to take care of the area post-procedure. The bleeding should stop after a few hours; if it continues, be sure to call your dentist to see if perhaps there is a complication with the surgery site. Be sure to stay away from extremely hot or too cold foods or liquids, as they can cause some sensitivity.

Options for Payment

If you are worried about whether or not your dental extraction will be covered by insurance, it’s best to speak to your dentist before the extraction begins. Dental insurance typically covers anything that affects the overall health of the mouth. If the dental extraction is needed to ensure the health of the mouth, the dental insurance will likely cover this procedure. If the dental extraction needs to be done in order to make room for aesthetic reasons, then most likely your dental insurance will not cover the fee.

You can speak to your dentist about your options and how you can pay for the extraction out-of-pocket. If you do not have dental insurance, your dentist will be happy to go over some different payment options for you in order to help ease the fee. If the extraction is recommended for a health issue or could potentially become a health risk, it’s important that the extraction is done right away. If you need to wait before doing the extraction for financial reasons, you could be putting your own dental health at risk. Your dentist will almost always go over different payment options with you to try to assist you to ensure your health comes first. You surely do not want to put your own oral health at risk simply because a tooth extraction is out of your budget. Speak to your doctor about your budget and see if they can offer a month-to-month payment option plan. After all, your dentist only wants to see the health of your mouth succeed.

head shot 1

Meet Dr. Tracey Nguyen

Dr. Tracey Nguyen received her Doctor of Dental Surgery, Magna cum laude, at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical College of Virginia. Dr. Nguyen is trained in all phases of implant dentistry, and has received extensive training in cosmetic dentistry. She is also a manuscript/review editor for the Academy of General Dentistry.

More About Dr. Nguyen

We are located in Leesburg, VA but proudly serve Lansdowne, Reston, Broadlands, Ashburn, Sterling, and all neighboring communities.