Tooth Extraction
If a tooth is decayed or damaged beyond repair, it can lead to infection and painful symptoms.
Our dentists at Colorado Premier Dental , can gently extract your tooth before it causes long-term damage.
Our dentists in Lakewood, CO, can handle even the most complex extraction cases in-office.
Reasons to Extract a Tooth
Before performing a tooth extraction, our dentists will do all they can to preserve your natural tooth. If your tooth is too compromised to treat, our dentists can often replace it with an implant-supported prosthetic.
Extensive Decay
Untreated tooth decay can lead to serious infection. Once decay reaches below the gum line, an extraction may be the only way to stop the spread of bacteria.
Severely Damaged
Some damaged teeth can be repaired with fillings or dental crowns . Teeth that are cracked or chipped beyond repair should be removed and replaced with a false tooth.
Overcrowded Teeth
To prepare for orthodontic treatments, extracting some overcrowded teeth may be necessary.
Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth can grow in crooked or become impacted under your gums. They can cause spacing issues and cause your other teeth to shift. We can extract impacted wisdom teeth and handle complicated cases.
Preparing for Dental Implants
If a tooth is untreatable, your dentist can extract the tooth and prepare the extraction area for dental implants .
Do You Have a Tooth Causing You Pain? Contact Our Lakewood, Colorado, Office Today
Persistent tooth pain is a sign that you may need to have it extracted. Some people think they need an oral surgeon to have a tooth extraction. While oral surgeons are useful for specific dental treatments, tooth extraction is a widely practiced dentistry procedure. Our dentists use advanced technology and the latest dentistry techniques to gently remove teeth at our dental office in Lakewood, CO . Request an appointment today.
(303) 935-3465
What Happens If I Don't Extract An Infected Tooth?
A bacterial infection inside a tooth can cause an abscess in the surrounding soft tissue. Symptoms of an abscess include:
- Severe toothache that can spread to the jawbone and neck
- Gum swelling
- Fever
- Sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures
- Unpleasant taste in your mouth if the abscess ruptures
If the bacteria remains in the tooth, the infection can spread to other areas of your body. In severe cases, an infected tooth can lead to sepsis, a life-threatening condition.
By contacting our Lakewood, Colorado, dentist as soon as you're experiencing consistent tooth pain and bad breath, our dentists can examine your tooth and determine if it should be extracted.
Some patients may not experience any symptoms but can still have an infected tooth. By keeping regular exams, our dentists can routinely evaluate your oral health and detect an infected tooth before it causes serious issues.
The Tooth Extraction Process
We can extract impacted teeth and handle complicated dental cases.
Healing After Your Extraction
It is important not to aggravate the extraction site. If the blood clot is dislodged, a dry socket can form and cause serious pain. If you're experiencing increased levels of pain during the healing process, contact us immediately so we can check the clot and look for signs of dry socket.
People can usually return to their everyday activities within a few days and should completely recover in two weeks. During the recovery period, our Lakewood dentist recommends:
Using a Cold Compress
Swelling is normal after an extraction. Applying a cold compress near your jaw every 20 minutes for the first 24 hours after your tooth extraction can help to manage swelling.
Avoiding Strenuous Activity
For the first 48 hours after your extraction, you should avoid heavy lifting and other strenuous activities as they can increase the risk of swelling and bleeding.
Eating Soft Foods
Eating soft foods like yogurt, eggs, and ice cream will help to protect the treatment site. Patients should avoid using straws since they can dislodge the clot.
Chewing on One Side
Avoid chewing on the side of your mouth where the tooth was extracted. This will help manage pain and minimize the swelling.
Not Smoking
Tobacco products delay the healing process and can cause an infection at the extraction site.
Consider Dental Implants To Replace Missing Teeth
Unless it is a wisdom tooth, we highly recommend replacing your missing tooth.
One consequence of missing teeth is jawbone atrophy, where patients lose bone tissue and their jaw shrinks.
Your teeth will shift too, which will impact your appearance and change your bite alignment. You might have difficulty speaking clearly and eating certain foods.
To best maintain your oral health, our dentist recommends dental implants .
This dentistry procedure replaces tooth roots, preventing the jaw atrophy that results from tooth loss.
Implants are used to anchor dental prosthetics like crowns , bridges , and dentures.
Our dentists can answer any questions you have about implants at his Lakewood, Colorado, office and review your candidacy.
