Does A Child Ever Need A Tooth Extraction?

Posted February 24, 2021

We’ve been talking a lot about our fillings and crowns, and even root canal procedures, which we use to repair teeth and preserve them. However, sometimes an oral health issue could arise that needs more than a restoration. To avoid complications, we may need to actually remove one! In today’s blog, your Dallas, TX, pediatric dentist will talk about tooth extraction.

The Reasons for an Extraction

First, let’s talk about why we may need to remove a tooth, before we discuss how we ensure the procedure itself is a comfortable one. For some kids, there could be issues with baby teeth falling out on schedule. Should this occur, the result could be misalignment, bite imbalance, and an increased risk of damaged teeth or decay. If your child is ready to begin orthodontic treatment, but there isn’t enough room to properly reposition the smile, we may need to extract a tooth to prepare the smile. Finally, we may take out a tooth that has become compromised, such as one that is broken, severely decayed, or infected. If these concerns make the tooth beyond the reach of a filling or crown, extraction could prevent painful infections that could potentially spread to other parts of the smile!

Ensuring Your Child is Comfortable

We always want our little patients to feel comfortable! After all, successful dental visits could reduce dental anxiety, instill good habits, and make them more likely to continue seeing the dentist in their adult years. We will always carefully explain the procedure and answer their questions, and encourage them to bring a favorite stuffed animal, toy, or pillow or blanket.

We also have dental sedation. With sedation, we could use nitrous oxide, a pill or liquid, or administer it through an IV, to help your child enter a calm and relaxed state with no memory of the procedure. We could use these to help children with anxiety, but help kids with complications that make undergoing even routine procedures a difficult experience.

Recovery

Once we remove the tooth, we will suture the area closed and provide detailed instructions for aftercare, especially in the first day or two. We may also prescribe medications to help with the healing process and ensure better comfort. In a follow-up visit, we will remove the sutures and make sure everything is healing as it should. If you have any questions, please give us a call!

Do You Have Questions About Oral Surgery?

We’re ready to help your children enjoy optimal oral health. To learn more about our dental extraction options, then  by calling Pediatric Dental Care at Casa Linda in Dallas, TX today at 214-321-4880. We proudly serve patients who live around Casa Linda and all surrounding Dallas communities.