Tooth Extractions – Aurora, Colorado
Preserving Healthy Smiles for a Lifetime
In most cases, the Aurora dental team at D’Amico & Mauck, DDS consider tooth loss a bad thing, and we do our best to help patients maintain natural dental structures. However, there are cases where tooth extraction is the best choice to help people maintain overall oral health, and when that happens, our Aurora, Colorado dentists are here to help. If you want to learn more about tooth extraction or other dental services, call our dental office in Aurora to schedule your appointment today. We look forward to working with you to achieve your healthiest smile.
Why Would I Need a Tooth Extraction?
We’ll do our best to help you keep your smile healthy, but we may recommend tooth removal in all of the following situations:
- Severe decay or damage that destroys too much of the tooth for repair.
- In preparation for orthodontic treatment and partial or full denture placement.
- Primary teeth that don’t fall out on their own.
- Impacted teeth that are unable to erupt from the gum line.
- Wisdom teeth, third molars, that may lead to shifting alignment, impaction, and crowding.
How Does Tooth Extraction Work?
To extract a tooth, we will use one of two methods. The first is pulling. This is only possible when the tooth is fully emerged from the gum line. We use a clasping tool to shift the tooth back and forth until it breaks free from the gum line. For more firmly implanted teeth, we may need to provide a surgical tooth removal. These services can be as simple as making a small incision in the gums, or the procedures may be more complex, involving drilling into the supportive bone structures or breaking the tooth into smaller pieces. The goal is always to take a conservative approach to the process carefully extracting the tooth while causing minimal impact to your smile.
What Happens After Tooth Extraction?
After you’ve had one or more teeth removed, our team will carefully walk you through caring for your smile as your extraction site heals. Some of the basics to keep in mind include:
- Bleeding – for the first 48 hours after extraction, the empty socket is likely to bleed. To control the blood flow, you should place gauze over the extraction site and replace it as the gauze is saturated.
- Pain – it is normal to experience some discomfort following oral surgeries like tooth extraction, and most people experience relief by taking over the counter and/or prescription pain relievers as directed. You can also use cold compresses at 20-minute intervals to relieve discomfort and reduce swelling.
- Food – for the first two days after treatment, you should consume only liquids. After the first 48 hours, you can gradually begin introducing soft and then more difficult to chew foods as you feel comfortable.