Patients throughout Virginia love Dr. Patel for her expertise in a wide range of dental treatments, including cosmetic dentistry, dental implants – including the full-mouth or “Teeth-in-a-Day” procedure – and sleep apnea. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine and has advanced training in same-day smile design.

With such comprehensive dental knowledge, Dr. Patel is prepared to solve the most complex dental problems all under one roof. As a result, we save you time and money by delivering all of your care in one convenient location, without referring you to other offices all over town.

When is a tooth extraction needed?

If you chip a tooth, its health and function can be restored by receiving a simple cosmetic procedure like dental bonding or a crown. But if you’ve suffered dental trauma or are living with a toothache due to untreated infection or disease, you may need a tooth extraction to truly preserve your smile. At VSP Dental, we’ll always first recommend treating infection and saving a natural tooth with services like deep cleanings or a root canal. However, if unresponsive, removal may be the only way to restore your health.

A damaged or abscessed tooth can quickly lead to more serious issues affecting your other teeth, oral health, and even in some cases, your physical health if the cause is gum disease. Our dentist provides gentle tooth extractions in Danville, VA to quickly remedy your pain and save your smile from unnecessary harm. With sedation dentistry, a relaxing atmosphere, and affordable pricing, we’ll make your tooth extraction, and the path to restored health, surprisingly simple.

What are the benefits of a tooth extraction?

What is the tooth extraction process?

During your initial consultation at VSP Dental, we’ll examine your problem tooth or teeth and determine if a tooth extraction is needed. We’re in-network with multiple leading insurance providers and will work with you to not only determine the best solution for your health but your finances as well. If you’re scheduled for tooth extraction in Danville, VA, this means we were unable to preserve your natural tooth with more conservative measures or have deemed it unsalvageable due to infection, trauma, or another cause.

You’ll receive your tooth extraction at a separate appointment. When you arrive, we’ll first ensure you are comfortable and then numb the gums around your tooth with a local anesthetic. Our patients report that though they experienced slight pressure during the procedure, they remained pain-free throughout their visit. We’ll then use forceps to grasp your tooth and gently remove it, being careful to not harm adjacent teeth or bone and gum tissue at the site. Our dentist and dental team routinely complete tooth extraction procedures and are skilled in making them efficient and comfortable. Before you know it, your procedure will be complete! Your healing period will last a few days, during which time you may take over-the-counter medication for any discomfort. We’ll review post-operative instructions and recommendations with you in detail to ensure a healthy and comfortable recovery.

What happens after the tooth extraction?

After any tooth extraction, it’s critical that you take special steps to ensure the healing process goes as it should. A blood clot typically forms over an empty tooth socket during healing. If this doesn’t happen or if the blood clot is removed, the bone and nerves below the socket become exposed. This results in a painful complication called dry socket. You can prevent dry socket and ensure a smooth recovery by following the post-extraction guidelines we’ll review in detail with you after your surgery.

Your tooth extraction shouldn’t be the last stage of your treatment, though. We recommend many patients replace their extracted tooth, and generally encourage dental implants. The only permanent tooth replacement, dental implants look and act just like natural teeth due to their similar structure—post (tooth root) and restoration (tooth crown). This tooth will look identical to your natural teeth and provide all the same functional benefits. It’ll be as if you’d never had a tooth extracted in the first place!