704 NE Evans Street, McMinnville, OR 97128
New Patients Call (503) 472-1403
Existing Patients Call (503) 472-1402
If you have a large cavity or severely broken tooth, Dr. Ramsay and the team at Evans Street Dental will more than likely be able to repair it. But, sometimes, a tooth can simply be so damaged that the only solution is to remove it before a problem affecting one tooth begins harming those around it. Should you ever need tooth extractions in McMinnville, you can trust that your comfort will be priority #1 throughout the entire process. We even offer various sedation options to soothe your nerves and help you relax. Then, if needed, we can help you quickly replace the missing tooth so you can recover your full smile in no time.
An extraction is usually the best course of action if a tooth…
There are two basic types of tooth extractions: simple and surgical. A simple extraction is only possible when the tooth has fully erupted from the gums. First, we numb the area around the tooth. Then, we use a clasping tool to gently rock the tooth back and forth until it breaks free of the gumline.
A surgical extraction is used when pulling the tooth isn’t feasible. We may simply make incisions in the gum tissue to reveal more of the tooth, but some cases may involve drilling into the bone or breaking the tooth into smaller pieces. Every patient’s situation is different, and before your procedure begins, we’ll meticulously plan out every detail to make sure you’re comfortable.
Depending on the nature of your extraction, we’ll provide you with specific treatment instructions on caring for your smile after your tooth has been removed. We’ll develop a pain management plan using prescription and/or over-the-counter medications. You can also hold an ice pack to your cheek in ten-minute intervals to mitigate swelling, reduce discomfort, and slow bleeding. We’ll give you specific oral hygiene guidelines to follow, such as how and when to change your gauze and instructions on keeping your mouth clean during the healing process. Additionally, we can advise you on what dietary measures to take in the coming days and weeks.
Lastly, we can let you know about warning signs of potential health concerns you should watch out for. Contact your emergency dentist in McMinnville immediately if you experience any of the following issues:
In general, extracting a tooth is Dr. Ramsay’s last resort for preserving your oral health. So, when one is needed, it’s important for you to understand about the procedure and what will likely happen afterward. Feel free to ask a member of our team with any questions you have. In the meantime, we’ve included this helpful section with tooth extraction FAQs in McMinnville.
It depends. If you’re only getting a single tooth removed, the procedure can often be completed in 20 to 40 minutes. However, extracting multiple teeth at once will take a bit longer. You can typically expect each subsequent extraction to add another five to 15 minutes to the procedure, depending on each tooth’s location in the mouth. Surgical extractions also take longer than simple extractions, as extra steps may need to be taken to remove the tooth.
The cost of a tooth extraction will vary based on where in the mouth the tooth is located, whether the tooth is impacted, and what type of sedation you receive. Generally, impacted teeth toward the back of the mouth tend to cost more. Luckily, tooth extractions are considered a major restorative procedure by most dental insurance providers, so they may qualify for partial coverage. During your consultation, we can determine your cost estimate, find out your level of insurance coverage, and review your options for paying for your procedure, such as low-interest loans through CareCredit.
We recommend that most patients spend the remainder of the day after their procedure recovering at home. This is particularly true if you received oral conscious sedation or IV sedation, as the effects of those sedatives can linger for several hours.
The time when you can return to work will depend on what kind of work you do. If your job is mostly sedentary, then you should be able to return after a day or two (although we highly suggest not traveling for several days). However, if your job requires more strenuous physical activity, you shouldn’t return for at least three days. Exercising too soon after a tooth extraction could divert blood from the site and slow down the healing process.
While wisdom teeth will not need to be replaced, every other type of tooth should be. Waiting too long to replace a missing tooth could result in further oral health problems, like shifting teeth, a weakening jawbone, and a higher risk for gum disease.
A single tooth can be replaced with a dental bridge or a dental implant. We can also replace multiple lost teeth at once with a denture (which may or may not be secured onto dental implants). Although the ideal treatment will vary from patient to patient, we usually suggest dental implants whenever we can. Their placement in the jaw prevents bone loss and makes them last several times longer than other restorative options.