Dental Extractions

Dundee, MI

At Ballpark Family Dental, we strive to keep your smile in the game by repairing damaged teeth and restoring their health and function. However, extracting a tooth is sometimes our only viable option to safeguard your oral health and prevent more serious complications. Dr. Ball and his patient-centered team will ensure you are as comfortable as possible while providing you with top-tier care.

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Why Would You Need to Have a Tooth Extracted?

Here is a look at some of the reasons why you may need to have a tooth extracted:

Extensive Decay or Trauma: A tooth with irreparable damage due to deep decay or trauma may require extraction to prevent further complications and damage to neighboring teeth.
Periodontal Disease: Without treatment, periodontal disease can advance and destroy the bone and tissues supporting your teeth, leading to loose teeth that may require extraction to prevent complications.
Tooth Fracture: A fracture resulting from teeth grinding or biting down on a hard object may require extraction, especially if it extends vertically below the gum line.
Teeth Crowding: Selective tooth extractions are often components of orthodontic treatment, helping create the space the remaining teeth need to shift into alignment.
Preparation for Restoration: At times, we may need to extract any failing teeth before placing dental implants, dentures, or other restorations.
Problematic Wisdom Teeth: Wisdom teeth are notorious for causing problems, including being impacted, which can lead to complications, including pain, infection, teeth crowding, or damage to the neighboring teeth.

What Are the Types of Tooth Extractions?

We offer simple and surgical extractions depending on your unique needs. Simple extractions are needed to remove teeth that are visible above the gum line and easily accessible. Surgical extractions, on the other hand, are more involved procedures required to remove impacted or problematic teeth. With a properly planned extraction, most patients report little pressure but don't feel pain during the procedure.

What Is Socket Preservation?

Depending on the location of the tooth, we may recommend socket preservation, also known as ridge preservation. The procedure involves placing bone grafting material in the tooth's socket right after extraction to stabilize the bone and preserve the natural shape of your jawbone. Socket preservation helps ensure the success of future implants and enhances the function and comfort of future dentures.

Promoting Healing After Tooth Extraction

After your tooth extraction, make sure to follow the post-operative care instructions we provide to promote healing and recovery. We may also recommend pain relief medication for use as needed.

Following your treatment, bite down on a gauze pad for a few hours to stop bleeding and help a clot form in the extracted tooth's socket. Consume only soft foods and avoid brushing around the extraction site for a few days. Avoid drinking through a straw, rinsing vigorously, or smoking for at least 48 hours to lower your risk of dislodging the clot forming in the socket, which can lead to a painful condition known as dry socket.

If you have any questions or concerns in the days following your tooth extraction procedure, make sure to contact our office for guidance.