When tooth extraction is needed, our team can help make the process easy.

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Tooth Extraction in Fort Collins CO

Woman | Tooth Extraction Ft. Collins At Buxton Family Dental, we are here to provide you with all the tools and support you need to enjoy a healthy smile that lasts. However, there may come a time when our only option for protecting your oral health is removing a tooth.

We know that facing tooth extraction can be overwhelming, but we will never recommend the procedure unless we have exhausted all other options.

If we find that you need to have a tooth extracted, first Dr. Kendell Buxton will help you understand what is happening in your mouth and why the tooth needs to come out. Then we will talk about your tooth replacement options so you can begin to look forward to having a full, healthy smile again!

Reasons for Tooth Extraction

There are several cases where we would recommend extraction as the best solution:

Advanced tooth decay, the most common reason for extraction
A severe gum infection that also compromises the tissue and supporting bone
Wisdom teeth that threaten the health and positioning of surrounding teeth
In preparation for orthodontic treatment to achieve optimal results

Most simple extractions can be performed here at our office, but in the case of a more complex procedure, Dr. Buxton may refer you to a trusted local oral surgeon. If this is the case, you can be confident that he will consult with the specialist and continue to oversee your care.

Compassionate Care You Can Rely On

Dental Patient | Tooth Extraction Fort Collins If we recommend extraction, you can be confident that our kind and caring team will be there to support you through your procedure every step of the way. Our goal is always to gently remove the tooth while protecting the surrounding bone and tissue so that you’ll have minimal discomfort afterward and heal more quickly.

We are pleased to offer nitrous oxide sedation if you would like to comfortably drift off during your procedure. Just sit back and breathe normally through a small nasal mask, and in moments, you will experience a dreamy, slightly euphoric feeling as the activity around you recedes into the background.

If you need a little extra help, Dr. Buxton will prescribe a mild sedative for you to take about an hour before your appointment. That way, you will arrive at our office feeling calm and remain relaxed throughout the procedure. Oral sedation stays in your system longer, so you will need a driver to get you to and from our office.

For patients with extreme anxiety, in-office IV sedation is often the best approach. A nurse anesthetist comes to our office to safely administer the medicine so you know you are in good hands. IV sedation puts you at the edge of unconsciousness, and most patients have no memory at all of what happened during their appointment.

Post-Procedure Instructions

A simple extraction has a fairly short recovery time, but we recommend that you plan to take it easy on the day of your procedure. Before you leave our office, we’ll give you a list of after-care instructions that will promote faster healing.

We typically recommend that you choose a diet of soft foods like yogurt or soups for the day or two after extraction. Avoid smoking cigarettes or drinking through a straw as the sucking action of both can dislodge the clot that is forming to protect the extraction site.

Please Contact Our Office

If you suspect that you need a tooth removed, please call Buxton Family Dental for an appointment. We will provide you with the supportive care you need to restore your smile back to full health.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I really need to have my wisdom teeth removed?

Not everyone needs their wisdom teeth removed, but for many people it is a very good thing for their long term health. Your third molars, commonly known as wisdom teeth, usually erupt in the later teen years. It's thought that they were named wisdom teeth because they erupt much later than the other teeth at a time when we are supposedly much more mature and wiser. Some people are lucky enough to have their wisdom teeth erupt normally and serve them well. Here are other situations we commonly see that usually warrant removal of these teeth:

Your wisdom teeth are fully impacted. An x-ray would show them laying at various angles in your jaw bone. Its unlikely they will ever show themselves in your mouth, but the lower wisdom teeth can sit near the nerve that runs through your jaw and the upper wisdom teeth may be near your sinus so any time you have jaw discomfort you may wonder if your wisdom teeth are the cause.
Your wisdom teeth are partially erupted (meaning they partly show through the gums). Sometimes these are the most problematic wisdom teeth. These can be very difficult to keep clean and the gums that lay over the teeth may periodically become inflamed and painful when bacteria flourish underneath. You also may be warned that the space around the partially exposed teeth can attract debris and bacteria that lead to cavities on the neighboring teeth and these can be very difficult to fix.
Your wisdom teeth are fully erupted, but are very far back in your mouth. They can be so difficult to reach that you're prone to cavities or gum disease even though you may be very good at taking care of your other teeth.

We often prefer to remove wisdom teeth when you are a teenager for various reasons. Two major reasons is that the teeth are easier to get out when you're younger and your ability to heal is much greater in your youth. Many people choose to wait which can put them at greater risk for complications so it's important they make that decision after understanding their particular situation. If you decide to remove your wisdom and your case is more complicated than is average we'll often send you to an oral surgery specialist and we have multiple wonderful oral surgeons in the area.

If you have any questions about the state of your wisdom teeth please pay us a visit at Buxton Family Dental!

Meet Our Doctor:

Kendell Buxton DDS
Dentist

Dr. Buxton is originally from a small town in Cache Valley of northern Utah. Cache Valley is home to Utah State University, where Dr. Buxton began his undergraduate studies in 1998. After completion of his coursework at USU, he moved to the Midwest, where he earned his dental degree at The Ohio State University College of Dentistry in 2008. Since that time, he has worked in several outstanding private practices in Ohio, New Mexico, and now Colorado.

Dr. Buxton chose Fort Collins as his final destination because of its many similarities ...

Featured Blog Posts - Tooth Extraction

January 22, 2019

Do I Really Need My Wisdom Teeth Extracted?

When you are told that you need your wisdom teeth removed, it may seem daunting, after all, there are four of them. Do they really need to be extracted? Is it possible to maintain them? Here's what you should know about wisdom teeth.

Also called third molars, wisdom teeth are your last set of molars to arrive. They come in far back in your mouth behind your second set of molars, and they typically erupt between the ages of 18 to 25 years old. In most cases, your dentist in Fort ...

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