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Tooth Extractions in Lakewood, CO
When a tooth cannot be saved, tooth extractions in Lakewood, CO remove it safely so the area can heal and you can plan what comes next.
Keeping your natural teeth is always the first goal, but sometimes removing a tooth is the healthiest choice: when it is too damaged to repair, badly infected, loose from gum disease, or crowding other teeth.
Lakewood Smiles provides extractions when they are needed. We will explain why we recommend it, what the visit involves, and the options for replacing the tooth, so you can decide with clear information and no pressure.
- Removal only when a tooth cannot be saved
- Area numbed before treatment
- Printable aftercare instructions
- Replacement options explained
What a tooth extraction is
An extraction is the removal of a tooth from its socket in the jawbone. In a simple extraction, the tooth is visible above the gum, and after the area is numbed, it is loosened and removed with dental instruments. Most people feel pressure during the process rather than sharp pain.
A surgical extraction is used when a tooth has broken off at the gumline or has not fully come in, as with some wisdom teeth. A small opening in the gum may be needed, and sometimes stitches are placed afterward. Some complex cases, such as deeply impacted wisdom teeth, are treated by an oral surgeon.
Who may need a tooth removed
Common reasons include decay or a fracture so severe that the tooth cannot be repaired, even with root canal therapy and a crown; advanced gum disease that has loosened a tooth; wisdom teeth that are causing pain, infection, or crowding; and baby teeth that have not fallen out on their own.
Before an extraction, tell the dentist about all of your medications and health conditions, especially blood thinners, medications for bone health, heart conditions, and any recent surgery. These can affect bleeding and healing, and the plan may need to be adjusted.
What to expect during an extraction
The dentist reviews your health history and usually takes an X-ray to see the tooth's roots and the bone around them. The area is then numbed so you feel pressure rather than pain while the tooth is removed. Afterward, a piece of gauze is placed over the site and you bite down on it to help a blood clot form.
Before you leave, you receive instructions for looking after the area at home. It is also a good time to talk about whether and how to replace the tooth, since the options can depend on how the area heals.
Aftercare after a tooth extraction
For the first day, keep biting on gauze as directed, rest, and avoid spitting forcefully, drinking through a straw, and smoking, all of which can dislodge the blood clot and lead to a painful dry socket. A cold pack on the cheek can reduce swelling. Eat soft foods, chew on the other side, and take pain relievers only as directed.
After the first day, rinsing with warm salt water a few times a day helps keep the area clean. Call the office if bleeding will not stop with pressure, swelling gets worse after two to three days, or you develop a fever. Our post-operative care page has printable instructions for after a tooth extraction. Options for replacing a tooth include implant restorations, a bridge, or dentures and partials.
Insurance and payment for extractions
Many dental plans include simple extractions, and surgical extractions may be covered under a different category with their own limits. Any replacement for the tooth, such as a bridge, an implant crown, or a partial denture, is a separate service with its own coverage.
Lakewood Smiles accepts select plans from Delta Dental PPO, Cigna PPO, UnitedHealthcare, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, GEHA, Humana, MetLife, Guardian and Medicaid. Not every plan from each carrier is accepted, so please call 303-988-6860 before your visit and we can check whether we are in network with your specific plan. Any estimate is based on information from your dental benefits company and is not a guarantee of payment. You can see the insurance list and billing notes on our contact page.
Ready to book?
New patients always welcome. We'll help you find a time that works.
Common questions about extractions
Does having a tooth pulled hurt?
The area is numbed before the tooth is removed, so most people feel pressure and some pushing rather than sharp pain. The numbing injection may sting for a moment. Once the numbness wears off, soreness for a few days is normal and usually improves with over-the-counter pain relievers taken as directed. Pain that gets worse after the second or third day should be checked.
What is dry socket and how do I avoid it?
Dry socket happens when the blood clot that forms in the empty socket is lost too early, leaving the bone exposed. It usually causes throbbing pain a few days after the extraction. To protect the clot, avoid smoking, drinking through a straw, spitting forcefully, and rinsing hard during the first day or so. If pain worsens after a few days, call the office so it can be treated.
What can I eat after an extraction?
Stick to soft, cool, or lukewarm foods for the first day or two, such as yogurt, smoothies eaten with a spoon, mashed potatoes, eggs, soup that is not too hot, and pasta. Chew on the opposite side from the extraction. Avoid crunchy, spicy, or very hot foods, and skip straws. Most people can return to their normal diet gradually over a few days as the area heals.
How long does it take to heal after an extraction?
Most of the soreness and swelling improves within a few days, and the gum usually closes over the site within a couple of weeks. The bone underneath takes longer to fill in completely, often a few months. Healing time depends on the tooth, whether the extraction was simple or surgical, your health, and whether you smoke. Following your aftercare instructions helps the area heal on schedule.
Should I replace a tooth that was pulled?
Often, yes, especially for teeth you chew with or that show when you smile. A gap can let neighboring teeth tip or drift, change your bite, and make chewing less even. Options include an implant with a crown, a bridge, or a partial denture. Wisdom teeth are the usual exception and generally do not need replacing. Your dentist can explain the options and their timing for your situation.
Do wisdom teeth always need to come out?
No. Wisdom teeth that come in fully, in a good position, and can be kept clean may never cause problems. Removal is usually recommended when they are impacted, partly erupted and repeatedly infected, causing pain, damaging nearby teeth, or impossible to clean well. X-rays and an exam help show whether yours are likely to cause trouble, and some cases are referred to an oral surgeon.