Book Now 720-464-4804 Find A Location

Tooth Extractions

We provide gentle tooth extractions with sedation options and bone grafting for future implants.

Gentle, Stress-Free Tooth Extractions

Why Choose The Dental Team for Tooth Extractions?

If a tooth needs to be removed, it's crucial to have an experienced general dentist perform the procedure to ensure it is comfortable, safe, and successful.

The Dental Team excels in both simple and surgical removals of teeth that are damaged, decayed, or impacted while maintaining the health of your jaw bone and adjacent teeth. When a tooth is beyond saving or non-restorable, we might suggest removal to avoid significant issues and improve your oral health. For those intending to replace a lost tooth in Thornton, CO, we offer bone grafting to support the alveolar bone and get ready for dental implants.

Tooth Extractions At a Glance

  • Comfortable & Stress-Free – Conducted using local anesthesia and oral sedation choices to ensure a pain-free visit.
  • Quick Procedure, Fast Recovery – Most extraction sessions last 30-60 minutes, with initial recovery in a few days and complete healing over several weeks.
  • Bone Grafting Available – Helps prevent jawbone deterioration and allows for potential future dental implants.
  • Pain Relief & Infection Prevention – Removes damaged, decayed, or impacted teeth to enhance overall oral health.
  • Diverse Tooth Replacement Options – Opt for dental implants, bridges, or dentures to renew your smile following an extraction.

Why Some Teeth Have to Go

What is a Tooth Extraction?

A tooth extraction involves taking a tooth out of its socket within the jawbone. Although dentists aim to preserve natural teeth as much as they can, there are times when extraction becomes essential for sustaining oral health over the long term.

Reasons for needing a tooth extraction can include significant decay, infection, gum disease, injury to the tooth or jaw, or overcrowding. The procedure usually takes place under local anesthesia to minimize discomfort.

Smiling man in dentist's chair, relaxed atmosphere.

What to Expect During Tooth Extraction

Understanding the Tooth Extraction Process

Step 1: Getting Ready for the Procedure

Prior to a tooth extraction, we will evaluate your medical history and current medications to ensure a safe and smooth process.

Step 2: Numbing the Surgical Site

A local anesthetic is used to numb the area and prevent any discomfort. For those with dental anxiety, oral sedation is an option.

Step 3: Removing the Tooth

  • For simple extractions, the tooth is gently loosened and extracted from its socket.
  • For surgical extractions, a small incision may be made in the gum tissue, and the tooth might be removed in sections if needed.

Simple vs. Surgical Extractions

Types of Tooth Extractions

Simple Extractions

A simple extraction is conducted when the tooth's root is fully visible above the gum line. During this procedure, a dentist or oral surgeon will:

  1. Administer a local anesthetic to numb the area.
  2. Utilize specialized tools to loosen the tooth socket.
  3. Carefully extract the tooth with minimal impact on surrounding bone.

This process is quick, minimally invasive, and typically involves fast healing and minimal downtime.

Surgical Extractions

Surgical extractions are required for teeth that are impacted, fractured, or difficult to reach such as molars. This may involve:

  • Making an incision in the gum tissue
  • Removing small sections of surrounding bone
  • Dividing the tooth into pieces for easier removal
  • Safeguarding nearby cranial nerves, lingual nerves, and inferior alveolar nerve

Patients undergoing surgical extractions might receive local anesthesia or sedation options for increased comfort.

Wisdom Teeth Removal

Many people need their wisdom teeth removed due to discomfort, infection risk, or insufficient space in the dental arch. Impacted wisdom teeth can cause:

  • Severe discomfort in the jaw bone and gum area
  • Pressure on neighboring teeth causing misalignment
  • Risk of infections and abscess formation
  • Issues with maxillary sinus health (for upper teeth)

If you have impacted wisdom teeth, we offer removal services to prevent future oral health problems.

Preserving Jawbone Health After Extraction

Bone Grafting

Following a tooth removal, the bony socket undergoes bone remodeling, where the jaw bone gradually diminishes. This may result in:

  • Reduced support for adjacent teeth
  • Challenges in placing future dental implants
  • Alterations in facial appearance

To mitigate these issues, we provide bone grafting during extraction. This method places a biocompatible substance into the socket to maintain bone integrity and prepare for future restorations such as implants or bridges.

Patient smiling during dental check-up appointment.

Tips for a Smooth Recovery

Tooth Extraction Recovery & Aftercare

Following proper post-extraction care is crucial to promote quick healing and reduce discomfort. Your dentist will give you specific aftercare instructions for home, which might involve:

  • Keeping the gauze in place during the first hour to help form a blood clot.
  • Avoiding rinsing, spitting, or using straws within the first 24 hours to prevent dry socket.
  • Applying an ice pack to reduce swelling.
  • Consuming soft foods like mashed potatoes, yogurt, and applesauce.
  • Steering clear of hard and crunchy foods that could irritate the surgical site.

The majority of patients recover within a few days, with complete healing occurring over several weeks.

Restoring Your Smile

Options for Tooth Replacement After Extraction

If a tooth requires removal, we can explore various tooth replacement solutions to bring back your smile.

Dental Implants

Considered the premier choice for tooth replacement, dental implants mimic the appearance and function of natural teeth. Bone grafting provides a robust foundation for enduring success.

Dental Bridges

A fixed bridge can substitute one or more lost teeth, utilizing adjacent teeth as support.

Partial & Full Dentures

For several missing teeth, we provide personalized dentures that offer a natural appearance and comfortable fit.

Tooth Extraction Frequently Asked Questions

Not typically. We apply local anesthesia to numb the area, so most patients experience pressure rather than pain during the procedure.

Initial healing is usually within a few days, but complete healing of the bone and gum tissue can take several weeks.

Dry socket can occur when the blood clot becomes dislodged, revealing the bone beneath. It leads to intense pain and needs prompt treatment. Contact us immediately if you experience severe pain following a tooth extraction.

Yes. Many patients opt for dental implants to replace missing teeth, often requiring bone grafting first for optimal results.

Consume soft foods such as creamy soups, yogurt, and mashed potatoes while steering clear of hard or crunchy items that might disrupt the healing area.