Extractions and Oral Surgery
Tooth Extractions in Arvada, CO
Dentists perform tooth extractions to remove unhealthy or problematic teeth. This can mean removing a tooth rotten with decay or wisdom teeth that are growing in and cannot fit in your mouth. While dentists will do their best to save all your natural teeth, sometimes tooth extraction is the only option.
Even though dentists mostly perform extractions in dental offices, oral surgery classifies these procedures. If you’re having your wisdom teeth removed, you don’t need to worry about how your teeth will shift.
For other teeth that dentists remove, you have tooth replacement/prosthetic options available. This includes partial dentures and even dental implants..
There are several reasons why you could need tooth extractions
While patients usually get tooth extractions due to severe tooth decay and cavities, another reason someone might need an extraction is impacted teeth. This typically refers to wisdom teeth. Other reasons a patient might need a tooth extraction include advanced periodontal disease, broken or cracked teeth, and misshapen teeth.
While many of these situations aren’t preventable, patients can avoid some of these situations by regularly visiting the dentist for teeth cleanings and oral exams.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a tooth extraction?
What should I expect during my tooth extraction appointment?
If both you and your dentist decide to go forward with tooth extraction, they will schedule you for oral surgery at a later date. Once you arrive at the office for surgery, the dentist will give you a local anesthetic so you don’t feel pain during the procedure. If necessary, the dentist will prescribe you pain medication to help with recovery after the procedure.
After performing an oral exam and taking x-rays of your teeth, your dentist will then be able to tell you if you need to have a tooth extracted. If your teeth are severely decayed to a point where any restoration isn’t possible, your dentist may need to extract more than just one tooth.
What type of post-treatment care will I need to follow?
Dr. Zeitlin uses wholistic products such as StellaLife and DentaMedica to ensure a better, faster, less painful recovery for our patients. Still, patients must take care after a tooth extraction to ensure proper healing and prevent complications. We will instruct you to avoid certain foods and also keep the surgical site clean at all times. If we prescribe an antibiotic, it is important that you complete the course of treatment to prevent infection. Finally, we may advise you to avoid smoking or drinking through a straw, as doing so may delay the healing process and cause a condition known as a ‘dry socket.’
