Pericoronitis and Extractions at Ardas Family Dental

Wisdom tooth extractions are one of our specialties at Ardas Family Dental in Parker. Although no kind of surgery should be undertaken lightly, wisdom tooth removal is often necessary to prevent future oral health problems, including ones that can be painful and put a patient at risk for more severe infections. One of the most common problems that can be avoided through wisdom tooth removal is pericoronitis. However, there may be instances in which a different kind of treatment for pericoronitis is more appropriate, so we want our patients to understand why it’s important to address and what their treatment options may include.

Wisdom teeth, particularly the ones in the lower jaw, are often unable to fully erupt. They are the last teeth to emerge, and often do so after the other teeth have undergone orthodontic therapy. (People can get braces for minor adjustments at any age, but by mid-adolescence, the jaws have solidified enough that orthodontics are no longer effective for major interventions.) The wisdom teeth commonly get stuck partially-emerged, with a flap of gum tissue called an operculum covering the remainder of the crown. Bacteria can easily get caught under the operculum, causing infections and inflammation. In the worst cases, the infection may spread to the neck, and patients will often experience soreness in their jaws and foul-tasting discharge.

It is possible to cut away an operculum, but it may grow back. Additionally, the impacted wisdom tooth may continue to cause soreness and be difficult to clean. Removing the tooth would solve both these problems. Extracting it may require an incision into the gum tissue or for the tooth to be sectioned, but patients usually recover well and are able to eat and speak normally within a few weeks. If an impacted wisdom tooth is caught early, it may be possible to guide it into place with orthodontics, but for older patients, extraction is usually recommended.

Dr. Roopi Kattaura operates Ardas Family Dental at 10233 S Parker Rd, Suite 205, Parker, Colorado. Call 720-459-8420.

Dry Socket Prevention in Parker, CO

Tooth extractions aren’t something we recommend lightly at Ardas Family Dental in Parker, but there are a lot of situations in which they are likely to be appropriate. Wisdom teeth, in particular, often need to be removed in order to prevent them from causing malocclusions and soreness or becoming traps for oral bacteria. We have a lot of experience extracting wisdom teeth in pediatric patients and their outcomes are overwhelmingly good, but there are a few things patients need to keep in mind in order to avoid developing a dry socket while they recover.

During a simple extraction, the tooth is wiggled and raised out of its socket. This doesn’t leave any incisions, but the jaw bone at the base of the socket is briefly exposed to air. Usually, a bit of blood will form a scab, sealing the socket off and protecting it from dryness and airborne pathogens. However, there are certain medications that interfere with blood clotting, which is why we ask that patients disclose them to us prior to procedures.

Following the extraction, the patient should avoid eating or drinking anything that could cause the scab to dissolve or be torn loose prematurely. For this reason, they should avoid sucking through straws, and we especially advise adults getting tooth extractions against smoking during this period. Sipping soup could also create a vacuum that might remove the scab. If the socket does dry out, the patient will likely experience a great deal of pain and need to undergo antibacterial treatment. If a patient notices that the scab has broken off before their scheduled follow-up, they should request an emergency appointment. However, following the post-surgical guidelines will usually allow them to make a full and quick recovery.

Dr. Roopi Kattaura operates Ardas Family Dental at 10233 S Parker Rd, Suite 205, Parker, Colorado. Call 720-459-8420.

Wisdom Teeth: To Extract or Not?

What Are Wisdom Teeth?

Wisdom teeth typically grow in the 17-25 age years, emerging in the upper and lower back areas of the mouth. Since they are the last to appear in the human mouth, they’ve garnered the title “wisdom” and presumably make you wiser. Wisdom teeth were once very useful in human history, aiding our ancestors to chew and tear tough roots, meats, nuts, and plants. But because most of the human diet today is soft and cooked foods, the need for wisdom is virtually none, with anthropologists suggesting their DNA may soon completely disappear from genetics.

 

When to Extract?

When a wisdom tooth can’t break through the gums or is stuck under the gums, this means it’s impacted. A wisdom tooth that grows in the wrong angle due to lack of room in the mouth also is impacted. Partially impacted wisdom teeth, which only slightly emerge from the gums are also a cause for concern. 

 

Your Parker, CO dentist recommends an extraction when your wisdom tooth is impacted and you experience the following symptoms:

 

-Pain

-Infection

-Ulcers near the tooth

-Tooth decay

-Damage to nearby teeth

-Gum disease

-Trouble opening jaw

-Bleeding gums

-Sudden bad breath

 

Sometimes wisdom teeth, even if not impacted, don’t need to be removed because they cause no oral health issues. Here are examples of when you don’t need an extraction:

 

-Your wisdom teeth are healthy and fully grown in

-Your wisdom teeth are positioned correctly

-Your wisdom teeth are easily reached for proper dental hygiene

 

Dr. Roopi Kattaura operates Ardas Family Dental at 10233 S Parker Rd, Suite 205, Parker, Colorado. Call 720-459-8420 or visit Ardas Family Dental and fill out a contact sheet.

Wisdom Teeth: To Extract or Not?

 Wisdom teeth are usually synonymous with pain, infection, crowding, and swollen gums. The general solution to these issues is extraction. But what if you don’t experience any of those symptoms? At Ardas Family Dental located in Parker, CO, Dr. Roopi Kattaura provides expert care for wisdom teeth, from extractions to dental hygiene. 

What Are Wisdom Teeth?

Wisdom teeth typically grow in the 17-25 age years, emerging in the upper and lower back areas of the mouth. Since they are the last to appear in the human mouth, they’ve garnered the title “wisdom” and presumably make you wiser. Wisdom teeth were once very useful in human history, aiding our ancestors to chew and tear tough roots, meats, nuts, and plants. But because most of the human diet today is soft and cooked foods, the need for wisdom is virtually none, with anthropologists suggesting their DNA may soon completely disappear from genetics.

When to Extract?

When a wisdom tooth can’t break through the gums or is stuck under the gums, this means it’s impacted. A wisdom tooth that grows in the wrong angle due to lack of room in the mouth also is impacted. Partially impacted wisdom teeth, which only slightly emerge from the gums are also a cause for concern. 

Your Parker, CO dentist recommends an extraction when your wisdom tooth is impacted and you experience the following symptoms:

-Pain

-Infection

-Ulcers near the tooth

-Tooth decay

-Damage to nearby teeth

-Gum disease

-Trouble opening jaw

-Bleeding gums

-Sudden bad breath

Sometimes wisdom teeth, even if not impacted, don’t need to be removed because they cause no oral health issues. Here are examples of when you don’t need an extraction:

-Your wisdom teeth are healthy and fully grown in

-Your wisdom teeth are positioned correctly

-Your wisdom teeth are easily reached for proper dental hygiene

Dr. Roopi Kattaura operates Ardas Family Dental at 10233 S Parker Rd, Suite 205, Parker, Colorado. Call 720-459-8420 or visit Ardas Family Dental and fill out a contact sheet.

Pericoronitis and Wisdom Tooth Removal in Parker, CO

Wisdom tooth extractions aren’t taken lightly, but they are a common form of preventive care. One of the most important reasons for that is to prevent pericoronitis, which is inflammation surrounding an impacted dental crown. Dr. Roopi Kattaura, of Ardas Family Dental, regularly removes patients’ wisdom teeth efficiently after discussing their full range of options, so we wanted to take this opportunity to make sure everyone understands what pericoronitis is and how it is treated.

An impacted tooth is one that is unable to fully emerge. The wisdom teeth, being much larger than other teeth and the last to come in, frequently become impacted, leading to soreness and disruption in the alignment of the rest of the teeth. But when a wisdom tooth partly emerges, the flap of gum tissue covering it, called an operculum, becomes a trap for food debris. This allows bacteria to feed in a place they can’t be brushed or flossed out of, resulting in an infection that will cause swelling and the discharge of pus and has the potential to spread to other parts of the body.

A dental hygienist could clean an operculum, but that wouldn’t prevent a new infection from developing. A more lasting solution is to cut the operculum away. But even then, there is a possibility it will grow back, and if the impacted wisdom tooth is causing other problems, the best option may be to remove the tooth. Sometimes, only the crown needs to be removed, but there are also times when removing the roots will help to reduce overcrowding and remove the risk that they’ll continue to emerge and create a new gum flap.

Dr. Roopi Kattaura operates Ardas Family Dental at 10233 S Parker Rd, Suite 205, Parker, Colorado. Call 720-459-8420 or visit Ardas Family Dental and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Dental Instruments at Ardas Family Dental

Dental instruments are a source of curiosity for a lot of people. We’ve used them to clean and repair a lot of teeth, providing patients at Ardas Family Dental in Parker with oral care that is vital to their overall well-being. But for some people, dental instruments can also be intimidating. We’ve found that when people know more about them, they tend to feel more comfortable at our office.

In the course of a regular cleaning, a hygienist will use a mirror and an explorer. The handheld mirror allows a hygienist to view the back sides of a patient’s teeth and to move the cheek away from the molars. The explorer is the wand with small sickles on either side. It is used to pick apart plaque, which is the hardened build-up that forms at the base of teeth and triggers gum recession. An explorer is also used to test how hard enamel is and whether gum pockets are adhering closely to tooth roots.

When tartar is broken up, it is sucked out with a vacuum called an evacuator. Larger evacuators are used when a dentist needs to drill away decayed enamel. If a dentist needs to place a filling, they will mix it on a small spatula and apply it with a rounded instrument called a burnisher. Differently shaped burnishers are used to contour fillings, bonding, and dental cement. If a patient comes in for an extraction, we will use a flat spoon called an elevator to wiggle a tooth until it is loose enough to be lifted out with forceps. This is done while the patient is anesthetized, and if they are still anxious, we can discuss sedation options.

Dr. Roopi Kattaura operates Ardas Family Dental at 10233 S Parker Rd, Suite 205, Parker, Colorado. Call 720-459-8420 or visit Ardas Family Dental and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Wisdom Teeth Extraction in Parker, CO

We’ve all heard of it before, maybe even experienced its fury: “my wisdom teeth are coming in.” Nowadays, it’s a common trend for young adults to record themselves after getting their wisdom teeth removed. There’s the comic relief post-procedure and sharing the video on Youtube. Until a viewer feels an unfamiliar ache in their mouth and wonders what comes before the laughs, or even after them. Dr. Kattaura at Ardas Family Dental closely monitors the development of wisdom teeth in young patients and is committed to preserving their overall oral health.

Wisdom teeth that do not have enough space to develop correctly can cause numerous problems in the mouth. Complications include the trapping of food which makes an environment for cavities and disease to form, the crowding or damaging of neighboring teeth, and root damage (which is irreversible). As always, it is recommended that you see your dentist for regular checkups so that any issues involving the development of your wisdom teeth can be addressed as soon as possible.

You may need to get your wisdom teeth removed if you show signs of:

- Pain/aching/tenderness

- Infection

- Cysts

- Tumors

- Damage to surrounding teeth

- Gum disease

- Tooth decay

Ardas Family Dental is located at 10233 S Parker Rd, Suite 205, in Parker, CO 80134. For more information about wisdom teeth extraction or to schedule an appointment, please visit ardasfamilydental.com or call 720-459-8420.

 

Infections around Crowns

Ardas Family Dental in Parker carefully monitors the progression of our pediatric patients’ teeth. Misalignments can make flossing and brushing difficult, disrupt the bite, and contribute to a low self-image. But there is an additional risk when a tooth is impacted, meaning it is unable to erupt fully. Such a tooth could become the site of pericoronitis—infection around a crown.

Orthodontic work is usually done when children are between the ages of eleven and fourteen. At that age, they have most of their permanent teeth, but their jaws are still malleable. The wisdom teeth often do not erupt until late adolescence, and there is usually not enough room for them to emerge without disrupting other teeth. The lower ones are especially at risk of becoming impacted part-way, resulting in them being partly covered by a flap of gum tissue called an operculum. The operculum is a trap for food debris and oral bacteria, which will result in inflammation.

There are some easy ways to combat oral infections. A patient could take antibiotics and swish salt water around in their mouth twice a day. But an operculum is very difficult to clean, and infections will likely reoccur as long as it exists. Wisdom tooth extractions are among our routine services at Ardas Family Dental, and when patients visit us regularly, we’ll be able to identify dangerous situations and take care of them before pericoronitis develops.

Dr. Roopi Kattaura operates Ardas Family Dental at 10233 S Parker Rd, Suite 205, Parker, Colorado. Call 720-459-8420 or visit Ardas Family Dental and fill out a contact sheet.