Tooth removal
A tooth is removed when it can't be repaired: it's broken below the gum, loose from gum disease, badly decayed or in the way of other treatment. Some removals are simple, and some need a small cut in the gum. This page covers both.
What happens
Usually one visit, and a short check afterward if there are stitches.
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Step 1: Exam and options
Dr. Cartwright looks at the tooth and its X-ray, says whether it can be saved and gives the fee in writing.
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Step 2: Numbing and, if you choose, sedation
The area is numbed and checked before she begins. Sedation is added at the level you picked.
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Step 3: Removal
You may feel pressure and hear sounds. A surgical removal may take a few stitches. She tells you what she is doing as she goes.
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Step 4: After-care
You get written instructions, a number to call and, if needed, a time for a follow-up.
After the visit
A quiet first day
Rest, keep your head up, take what we tell you to take and eat soft, cool food. A nurse or an escort stays with you until you are ready to leave, and we call you the next day to see how you are.
Written instructions for you and your escort
A number to call, in and out of hours
A call the next day
Comfort, choices and care
Comfort
We use a local anesthetic, and you may add nitrous oxide, oral sedation, IV sedation or general anesthesia. You may feel pressure and hear sounds. Raise a hand and we stop.
Sedation levelsIf you wait
An infected tooth can cause pain and swelling that spreads. Sometimes a tooth can be repaired instead, and Dr. Cartwright will say so. A gap can let neighboring teeth shift, and she can talk through replacing the tooth.
Risks and after-care
Bleeding, swelling and soreness are expected for a few days. A dry socket can cause pain after a few days; call us if it does. Call for a fever, swelling that grows or bleeding that won't stop. Rarely, a nearby nerve is bruised, and she explains that before you decide.
How it's billed
The fee is in your written estimate before the visit. We check your dental and medical plans first and tell you what each is likely to pay, and the plan decides.
How fees work
Questions about tooth removal
Can I eat afterward?
Soft, cool food once the numbness wears off. We give you written instructions.
What about replacing the tooth?
Dr. Cartwright can talk through the options for a gap, including an implant. Your dentist makes the crown.
What if I'm afraid of the visit?
Tell us. We can walk you through each step before it happens, choose a sedation level with you and stop whenever you ask.
Provided by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon
Dr. Delores Cartwright, DDS, oral and maxillofacial surgeon, licensed in Missouri.