Post-Op Tooth Extraction Care

There are many reasons why a tooth may need to be extracted. Tooth decay, gum disease, or even for orthodontic purposes name a few. After the tooth is removed, you may need stitches and you will need to follow strict instructions that our doctors at Southern Cross Dental will give you. After the surgery, you will need to rest and you should expect the extraction site to bleed a little following extraction. In addition, here are a few things to remember during post-op care.

If bleeding continues for longer than 24 hours you should call our office immediately. Once you return home after the surgery you should rest, but do not lie flat. This could prolong the bleeding. One of our doctors will prescribe you pain medication, as well as cleaning solution for the extraction site, so if you become sore take as directed. It’s important to limit yourself to soft foods such as gelatin, pudding, yogurt, mashed potatoes, etc. so that the stitches are not punctured. When drinking, make sure you do not use a straw, because the sucking motion can loosen your sutures and slow the clotting process.

If you are experiencing tooth discomfort or have questions about post-op aftercare, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.southerncrossfamilydentistry.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, CO, call 719-471-1717.

Reasons for Tooth Extractions

 

At Southern Cross Dental, our doctors cannot stress enough the importance of taking care of your oral health. If you don’t brush and floss your teeth on a regular basis, you risk developing gum disease that can eventually lead to tooth decay. When teeth have significant decay, sometimes they cannot be treated by a root canal and will need to be extracted. In some cases, a broken tooth may also need to be extracted. Other reasons for tooth extractions include: 

• Some people have extra teeth that block other teeth from coming in.

• Sometimes baby teeth don’t fall out in time to allow permanent teeth to come in.

• People getting braces may need teeth extracted to create room for teeth that are being moved into place.

• Some teeth may need to be extracted if they have the potential of becoming infected.

If any of this issues sound all too familiar or if you have a tooth that is causing you pain, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about the services we provide at our office, visit www.southerncrossfamilydentistry.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, CO, call 719-471-1717.

At Southern Cross Dental, our doctors cannot stress enough the importance of taking care of your oral health. If you don’t brush and floss your teeth on a regular basis, you risk developing gum disease that can eventually lead to tooth decay. When teeth have significant decay, sometimes they cannot be treated by a root canal and will need to be extracted. In some cases, a broken tooth may also need to be extracted. Other reasons for tooth extractions include:

·        Some people have extra teeth that block other teeth from coming in.

·        Sometimes baby teeth don’t fall out in time to allow permanent teeth to come in.

·        People getting braces may need teeth extracted to create room for teeth that are being moved into place.

·        Some teeth may need to be extracted if they have the potential of becoming infected.

If any of this issues sound all too familiar or if you have a tooth that is causing you pain, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about the services we provide at our office, visit www.southerncrossfamilydentistry.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, CO, call 719-471-1717.

 

Tooth Extractions

Teeth are extracted for a variety of reasons, including decay, infection and impaction. If decay reaches too deeply into the tooth or if an infection has damaged too much of the supporting bone or tissue, the teeth may need to be removed. Teeth are also extracted if there is not enough room in the mouth. When teeth are impacted, it can cause damage to the roots of nearby teeth, so they are removed before damage is done. At Southern Cross Dental, Drs. Navid and Faranak Rahimpour can help you with tooth extractions in Colorado Springs, CO.

Before the procedure is performed, a local anesthetic is used to numb the area around the extraction site. During a simple extraction, the tooth is loosened with an elevator and then extracted with forceps. Once removed, the dentist may choose to smooth and contour the underlying bone. Then the gums are sutured.

After the extraction, it is critical to keep the area clean to prevent infection. A dry, sterile gauze will be placed over the gums to limit bleeding. You must make sure to keep it in place for 30 to 45 minutes while the blood clots. During the 24 hours after the procedure, you should not smoke, rinse your mouth vigorously or clean the teeth immediately adjacent to the extraction site. Strenuous activity, hot liquids and straw drinking should also be avoided. A certain amount of pain and discomfort accompanies an extraction, and a painkiller may be prescribed.

If you are suffering pain from decay, infection or impaction, Drs. Navid and Faranak Rahimpour of Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, CO can determine if a tooth extraction is required to save your mouth. Schedule an appointment by calling (719) 471-1717. For more information visit our website, www.southerncrossfamilydentistry.com.

Digital X-Rays

In many instances, x-rays are needed to confirm a diagnosis. X-rays may also be a standard part of an annual dental exam to determine if any problem exists. At Southern Cross Dental, we offer the latest technology to make the x-ray process safer, easier and more efficient.

 

Pictures of the gums, teeth and jaw, can be taken using digital x-rays. The images are taken by using an electrical sensor, which is placed in the mouth. The pictures are then processed through an imaging computer program, and can be displayed on a screen for you to view. Digital x-rays are considered advantageous over using traditional dental x-rays for many reasons. The digital x-rays can be enlarged in order to get detailed images of a problem area. They also often provide clearer and more accurate images of a person’s mouth than conventional x-rays. This helps us identify problem areas sooner and prevent complications from developing.

 

Our team at Southern Cross Dental is committed to providing you with excellent customer service and the latest technology. We offer a variety of dental services including periodontics, endodontics and cosmetic dentistry.

 

For more information on digital x-rays or in order to schedule an appointment, please visit our website www.southercrossfamilydentistry.com or call (719) 471-1717 for more information.

Implant Restoration

There are many options to fill the space left behind from a missing tooth. Dental implants have the greatest potential to be a permanent solution available for replacing missing teeth. Implants are widely considered the modern-day solution to missing teeth as they provide an aesthetically pleasing, potentially permanent answer to a serious problem. The team at Southern Cross Dental provides dental implant procedures to help their Colorado Springs, CO patients restore their smile and fix their bite after implant surgery.

 

When you lose a tooth, it is important to act quickly to fill the space. Apart from the cosmetic issues, patients who have missing teeth will often suffer from compromised chewing efficiency and tooth drifting. The space left behind from a missing tooth causes the other teeth to drift into that space which can lead to misaligned teeth. When teeth become misaligned, they become more difficult to clean, creating areas around the teeth that can collect bacteria. This can cause gum disease and or tooth decay that may eventually lead to additional tooth loss if left untreated.

 

Receiving a dental implant is a surgical procedure and patients may or may not be put under a general anesthetic. A dental surgeon will make an incision into the patients gum line where they will insert the implant. The implant will be secured into the bone where it will need to sit for three to six months so the bone can grow around it, this process is called osseointegration. After the surgery, patients will visit the doctors at Southern Cross Dental to receive a crown over the implant. This is done so the patient’s teeth do not drift and they can eat normally. Once the implant is secured, your doctor will place an abutment on top of the exposed implant that will support a crown.  

Dentures and Partials

Dentures are an option that many of our patients choose at Southern Cross Dental. Available in both full and partial, dentures serve as a removable replacement for missing teeth.

 

If providing patients with conventional full dentures, either Dr. Navid Rahimpour or Dr. Faranak Rahimpour will remove all the teeth from the patient’s mouth. Afterwards, the gums are given time to heal before dentures are placed. The patient would be without teeth during this healing process, which can take a couple months.

 

Immediate full dentures forgo this healing process with no teeth. Prior to having their teeth removed, the dentist takes measurements of the patient’s mouth, so that dentures are ready after teeth have been removed. This type of full denture requires a follow-up visit to refit the dentures wince the jaw bone will slightly change shape as the mouth heals.

 

Partial dentures are another option for those who do not need all their teeth to be removed. This makes them similar to bridges, but partial dentures are not permanent fixtures.

 

Whichever dentures our patients choose, they take time getting used to, and even though they are not real teeth, they should still be cared for as if they were. They should be brushed before removal and should be placed in room temperature water or cleaning solution overnight.

Tooth Extractions

Extractions are needed for multiple reasons: to avoid getting a root canal, to remove wisdom teeth that are pushing against other teeth, or to remove an impacted and infected tooth. Here at Southern Cross Dental, we provide extractions for patients that need to get a tooth removed. It is not a difficult process and is done under anesthesia, so no pain is experienced. We do ask that patients have a ride home following the anesthesia, as it is not safe for them to drive.

 

After the extractions are completed by our team at Southern Cross Dental, it is important that patients follow these tips:

 

1. Only eat soft foods for the first few days following the surgery, such as yogurt, pudding and mashed potatoes.

2. Don’t use a straw when drinking liquids.

3. Avoid chewing on the side of the mouth where the tooth was extracted.

4. Avoid smoking cigarettes, as the sucking motion can pull the blood clot.

5. Call our office if excessive pain or bleeding is experienced.

 

You may notice some minor bleeding at the extraction site, which is temporary. An ice pack works wonders for any lingering pain.

 

If you want to find out more about getting extractions done in our Colorado Springs, CO office, visit us online at www.southercrossfamilydentistry.com or call us today at (719) 471-1717.