Tooth Extractions – Weatherford, TX
Keeping Your Smile Healthy for Life
At Cosmetic & Family Dentistry of Weatherford, we are committed to helping our patients achieve and maintain the optimal level of oral health. In most cases, that means partnering with patients to keep their healthy, natural smiles, but for others, tooth extraction is actually in their best interest. When removing one or more teeth is the best option for your smile, we’ll happily offer safe, comfortable tooth extractions at our dental office in Weatherford. If you want to learn more about tooth extraction or any of our other dental care solutions, give are knowledgeable dentistry team a call today. We’ll do our utmost to answer your questions over the phone, or one of our team members will schedule an appointment for you to come see us.
Why are Tooth Extractions Recommended?
Our team cares about helping patients maintain the optimal level of oral health, and we always do our utmost to help you keep your natural teeth. However, some of the reasons we may recommend tooth removal include:
- Severe decay or damage
- Primary teeth that don’t fall out on their own
- Impacted teeth that are unable to erupt
- In preparation for orthodontic treatment or tooth replacement
- Wisdom teeth – third molars – are extracted for many different reasons
How are Teeth Removed?
Teeth are either pulled or surgically extracted. Pulling is only possible when teeth are fully erupted from the gum line. Most teeth require some element of surgical removal whether we simply need to remove some gum tissue to reveal more tooth structure or advanced surgical intervention is necessary.
What Happens After Tooth Extraction?
Prior to your tooth removal procedure, one of our friendly team members will walk you through best practices in at-home care to ensure you make a quick and complete recovery with minimal discomfort. We will also provide you with direction in writing, so you won’t have to worry about forgetting anything. Below, we’ve included some basic care steps to remember:
- Food – Consume only liquids for the first two days after tooth extraction, and don’t use a straw as this can dislodge the blood clot and slow healing. As you feel comfortable, begin introducing first soft foods then those that are more difficult to chew. Take special care to avoid chewing with the part of the mouth around the extraction site.
- Hygiene – For the first two days, you will likely experience some bleeding, and you should bite down on gauze to absorb the blood. Make sure to replace the gauze frequently as it becomes saturated. When brushing and flossing the surrounding teeth, be careful to avoid the extraction site.
- Pain – Take over the counter and/or prescription pain relievers as directed. You can also use ice packs for the first two days after extraction to relieve pain, slow bleeding, and reduce swelling and inflammation.
- Rest – This one may seem obvious but getting plenty of rest is essential as you heal following tooth removal. Plant to get plenty of sleep and avoid strenuous activities for at least the first few days after treatment.