Save the tooth when we can, replace it well when we cannot.
Restorative dentistry is most of what a family practice does, and it is where experience shows.Dr. Rudelich, Dr. Condie and Dr. Dixon start every case the same way: an X-ray, an honest assessment of what can be saved, and the options with their costs side by side. A filling before a crown, a crown before an extraction, and when a tooth must go, a clear plan for replacing it so the rest of your mouth stays healthy.Everything on this page is done here in Taylorsville, with sedation available for longer visits.
Mon to Fri from 8 AM · 5255 S 4015 W, Suite 180, Taylorsville
Southwest Dental · TaylorsvilleReady when you are.Call the office or send a request and we will find you a time. Same-day visits are held for emergencies. We speak English, Spanish, Chinese and Japanese.
We save teeth whenever we can. An extraction is the answer when saving the tooth would cost more pain, money and time than it is worth.Common reasons include a tooth broken below the gum line, decay that has destroyed too much of the tooth to hold a crown, an infection that a root canal cannot clear, advanced gum disease that has loosened the tooth, and crowding before orthodontic treatment. Baby teeth that refuse to fall out on their own are sometimes removed to let the permanent tooth through.The dentist will show you the X-ray and explain the choice. If a root canal and crown could save the tooth, you will hear that option first.
Simple and surgical
Simple and surgical extractions.
Most extractions are simple: the tooth is visible, the area is numbed, and the tooth is loosened and lifted out in minutes.A surgical extraction is used when a tooth has broken at the gum line, has curved roots, or has not fully come through. A small opening is made in the gum, and the tooth may be removed in sections so the surrounding bone is disturbed as little as possible. Both are done here in our Taylorsville office under local anesthetic.You will feel pressure during the procedure, not pain. If anything sharp registers, raise a hand and we stop and add more numbing.
Wisdom teeth
Wisdom teeth.
Wisdom teeth that come in straight and stay clean can be left alone. The ones that crowd, trap food or come in sideways are better out.We evaluate wisdom teeth with a panoramic X-ray in the late teens and early twenties, when the roots are still short and recovery is quickest. Wisdom teeth are referred to an oral surgeon we trust; we take the X-ray, make the call with you, and coordinate the referral.Signs a wisdom tooth needs attention: pain or swelling at the back of the jaw, a bad taste from a flap of gum, and pressure against the tooth in front.
A little preparation makes the day easier and the recovery faster.Eat a normal meal beforehand unless you are being sedated, in which case we will give you fasting instructions. Tell us about every medication you take, especially blood thinners, and about any heart or joint condition. Stop smoking for at least a day before and several days after, since smoking is the most common cause of a painful dry socket.Arrange a ride if you are being sedated. Stock soft foods such as yogurt, soup, eggs and smoothies. Plan a quiet afternoon; most people are back to normal activity the next day.
Recovery
Healing after an extraction.
Bite on gauze for the first hour, keep your head raised, and leave the clot alone. That clot is what heals the socket.For the first 24 hours: no straws, no spitting, no smoking, no rinsing. Use cold compresses in 15-minute stretches for swelling, and take pain relief before the numbness wears off. From day two, rinse gently with warm salt water after meals. Soreness peaks around day two or three and then fades; stitches, if used, dissolve on their own.Call us if pain gets worse after day three, if bleeding restarts, or if you notice a bad taste or fever. Those are easy to treat early.
After the extractionReplacing the toothLeaving a gap lets neighboring teeth drift and bone shrink. These are the three ways we fill it.
Call (801) 968-9003 or send a request. We will get you in quickly, explain whether the tooth can be saved, and give you a clear price before anything begins.
Mon to Fri from 8 AM · 5255 S 4015 W, Suite 180, Taylorsville
Questions patients ask
Extraction questions
Does a tooth extraction hurt?Not during the procedure. The area is fully numb and you feel pressure, not pain. Afterward, most people describe two or three days of soreness that over-the-counter pain relief handles well.How long is recovery?Most simple extractions feel fine within three to four days and the gum closes over in about two weeks. Surgical extractions and wisdom teeth take a few days longer. Bone fills the socket over several months.What can I eat afterward?Soft, cool foods for the first day: yogurt, applesauce, smoothies eaten with a spoon, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs. Avoid anything hot, crunchy, spicy or sticky for a few days, and skip straws entirely for a week.
Costs, kids and what comes next
More extraction questions
Do I need to replace the tooth?Usually, yes, except for wisdom teeth. A missing tooth lets the teeth beside it tip and the tooth above or below it drift, which changes your bite. An implant, bridge or partial denture keeps everything in place.What does an extraction cost?It depends on whether the extraction is simple or surgical and on your insurance. We check your benefits and give you the exact out-of-pocket amount before we begin, and financing is available for larger treatment.Can children have extractions here?Yes. We remove stubborn baby teeth, badly decayed baby teeth, and teeth that need to come out before braces, with the same numbing and the same care we give adults.
