At Danbury Dental Services, we care about keeping your smile healthy. For a variety of reasons, sometimes that requires an extraction. It may be due to severe decay, injury or in preparation for orthodontic treatment.

Prior to any extraction, we will take X-rays to help us plan the procedure. We will use a local anesthetic injection to numb the area where the extraction will take place. Once the site is numb, the tooth will be loosened extracted with dental forceps. The area is then cleaned thoroughly. Once the extraction is complete, you will be asked to bite down on a piece of gauze to help control bleeding. The area will form a clot which must not be disturbed during healing.

We will advise you to eat soft foods and avoid using a straw or applying any pressure on the area during this time. Cold compresses and over-the-counter painkillers are helpful for discomfort and swelling after the procedure. Once the swelling has subsided, a warm compress can be used on the cheek for comfort. To keep the area clean, a gentle rinse of the extraction site with warm salt water is okay after 24 hours have elapsed.