Pulling teeth does not have to feel like “pulling teeth.” Our ultimate goal at Hill Country Oral Surgery is to help you navigate this process on your terms. Our expert staff and trained oral surgeons will guide you through your options, clearly explaining each available choice and easing trepidations along the way.
We realize that you’re probably not excited about needing to have a tooth extracted, but we hope that we can make the experience better than expected and help you get your oral care and dental health back on track.
Why Might I Need Dental Extractions?
In a perfect world, teeth would last a lifetime and would never require removal. Reality though is a much different story. Decay, disease, overcrowding, infection, and trauma can also cause dental problems that may require an extraction or removal.
Although a tooth extraction is a sign of a problem in your mouth, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ve done anything wrong. And even if you have lapsed on your dental care, we don’t judge. Our goal is to restore a healthy smile. Tooth extraction is part of that process for many of our patients.
If you know you need tooth extractions in Austin, Tx, or if you’re unsure, contact us to schedule a consultation at Hill Country Oral Surgery.
What to Expect from a Tooth Extraction in Austin, TX
Removing a tooth can be a simple procedure or a very complex one. We can give you a better idea of what to expect once we’ve met with you, examined your mouth, and taken a few x-rays.
The tooth removal process isn’t painful. We use local anesthetic to numb the area. If you’re awake during the process, you’ll feel some pressure and movement, but very little, if any discomfort. Depending on your anxiety level, difficulty of extraction, and personal preference, we will make a decision together on what is the best anesthetic option for you. We provide local anesthesia, nitrous (laughing gas), oral sedation, intravenous (IV) sedation, and IV general anesthesia. Whatever anesthesia option you choose, we’ll monitor you carefully throughout the tooth extraction process.
Some teeth are easily removed with a simple tug while others require a long surgery. If your tooth is impacted, or not fully erupted, we’ll need to cut away bone and gum tissue surrounding the tooth before it can be removed. Some hard-to-remove or heavily damaged teeth are removed in pieces.
We can perform one single extraction, or multiple during the same visit. If you need to have multiple teeth pulled, we’ll create a treatment plan to space your treatments across one or more visits.
Timing for tooth removal varies. The procedure can take less than 30 minutes for a simple extraction or several hours for a more difficult one. This is an outpatient procedure, usually performed at our office, although we do have local hospital privileges for complex surgeries.
Recovery After Tooth Extraction
Most people who get single teeth extracted usually can get back to work the next day with some minor soreness. If it is at all possible to take the next day off of work, then that may be best.
If you’re having multiple teeth removed, or if your teeth are impacted, recovery take a little longer. We usually recommend 2-3 days of rest after tooth removal and avoiding physical activity for 5 days. We’ll let you know if you require more or less recovery time than this standard recommendation.
We always provide detailed recovery instructions after a tooth is pulled. Some of the advice we’ll provide may include:
- Pain Medication- Anesthetic usually wears off somewhere between 2-8 hours after surgery. Ideally, your pain medication will already be working at this point. Not all patients will require prescription pain medications. Many manage any discomfort with over-the-counter options, especially if the extraction was a simple one.
- Food- Patients can eat immediately after surgery, even if they are still numb. Start with clear liquids and if you tolerate them well, add in soft foods. Some of our favorite post-extraction foods include mashed potatoes, pasta, and soup. Do not use a straw for the first week as it can dislodge the clot, a painful complication.
- Hygiene- Good hygiene helps the mouth to heal and reduces infection. Rinse with salt water any time you eat or drink, other than water. Normal tooth brushing is encouraged, but avoid the areas where teeth were extracted.
- Physical Activity- Rest is recommended for the first couple of days. Limit more strenuous activities, like exercise or heavy lifting, for 5 days. Resuming physical activity too soon may slow recovery and cause recovery complications.
We’re here to help. Get in touch if you need us!
Get Your Smile Back- Tooth Replacement Options After Dental Extractions
Losing an adult tooth changes the mouth dramatically. Without tooth replacement, serious dental and health issues may occur. If you need a tooth removed, ask us about replacement options. We love restoring healthy smiles.
Your tooth replacement options in Austin, TX include:
- Traditional Dental Implant- Dental implants are placed into the jawbone, similarly to the root of a natural tooth. They restore both appearance and function. A traditional implant uses a medical grade titanium screw, paired with an artificial tooth. Once implanted, dental implants look and function like natural teeth.
- Metal-Free Dental Implant- Patients that need to avoid metal implants should consider our metal-free zirconia dental implants. This work similarly to a traditional implant, but are crafted from a strong zirconia material, instead of titanium.
- Bridge- A fixed bridge uses two healthy teeth or implants to support one or more artificial teeth. A bridge will require a little special care, but offers a long lasting tooth restoration solution.
We can also advise you about other options including full or partial dentures and full arch restoration using dental implants.
Are Other Procedures Necessary with Tooth Extraction?
When people have teeth extracted and are planning on having dental implants placed, it is often recommended to place a bone graft. The type of bone we use is medically treated bovine, or cow bone, that has been processed to be safely used as graft material. This graft material serves as a space maintainer to keep the gingival tissues out and allow the hard tissues to heal with the adequate shape and quantity to place a dental implant. Sometimes we can even place a dental implant at the same time as tooth extraction.
I Know I Need Tooth Extraction, but I Don’t Know Where to Start
Patients that need advanced dental work are often intimidated and unsure of the next steps to take. We invite you to our office for a consultation. We can’t recommend treatments or tell you how many tooth extractions you’ll need without an examination and x-rays. Once we have information, we’ll help you create a treatment plan.
If you need a tooth extraction in Austin, TX, come into Hill Country Oral Surgery. Call us at 512-327-7233 to schedule a consultation.
Austin Tooth Extraction Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What Is Tooth Extraction?
A tooth extraction will be necessary when a tooth becomes damaged, infected, decayed, or otherwise no longer viable. Tooth extraction or tooth removal is a procedure that involves your dentist pulling a tooth or removing it with a surgical procedure.
There are two types of tooth extractions: simple and surgical. The complexity and cost will vary depending on the type of extraction needed and whether an oral surgeon or general tooth extraction dentist performs the procedure.
Why Would I Need A Tooth Extraction in Austin, TX?
Your dentist will do everything possible to keep your healthy tooth in place. However, if the damage is too severe, the tooth will need to be removed to protect your overall oral health.
Some of the reasons you may need a tooth extraction include:
- Breaks and deep cracks
- Infection
- Cysts
- Gum disease
- Other teeth being impacted
- Wisdom teeth eruption
While your dentist will do everything possible to save the tooth before deciding to pull it for most extractions, wisdom teeth extractions are usually the exception.
Will My Dental Extraction Hurt?
One of our dental office’s priorities is to provide comfortable dentistry, including dental extraction, for our patients. Before we begin, we’ll discuss your dental history so that we can administer anesthesia while making sure you have a comfortable experience.
To experience some discomfort and swelling following dental extraction is normal, and this is typically addressed with over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen. We will advise you on dosing recommendations and what to expect as you recover. Fortunately, our mouths heal quickly, as long as we avoid smoking and drinking through a straw after treatment.
You likely will feel a dramatic improvement in a couple of days and should be completely healed within a week or two. During your follow-up exam, we’ll monitor your healing and make sure that everything is on track.
What are My Options After Dental Extraction?
A dental extraction presents many questions regarding your smile’s future as well as your overall oral health. Except in the case of wisdom teeth, we recommend replacing a missing tooth as this will prevent other teeth from shifting and causing additional problems with your oral health. When your teeth shift, this can expose roots and cause problems with your bite.
Replacing a missing tooth with a dental implant prevents any shifting that may occur after the loss of the tooth, making it easier to chew and to smile confidently.
How Much do Tooth Extractions Cost in Austin, TX?
The cost of tooth extractions depends on various factors—including how many teeth, which teeth, whether surgery is needed, and other issues. The more work that is required, though, the higher the extraction may cost.
The cost of having a tooth extracted depends on whether the tooth is impacted or not. A simple tooth extraction typically costs less, and the type of anesthesia used will also influence the overall tooth extraction cost. During your consultation at Hill Country Oral Surgery, we will advise you on your financing options. Apart from any insurance you might have, we also accept cash, check, debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, and Care Credit.
