Why Some Kids May Need Tooth Extraction
When a tooth develops a concern that cannot be treated with a restoration, or threatens the stability of the smile, then we may need to perform a tooth extraction. In today’s blog, your Dallas, TX, pediatric dentist talks about when kids may need tooth removal and how we ensure they feel comfortable!
Reasons for Tooth Removal
When do we need to remove a tooth from your child’s smile? Well, if one is severely decayed or infected and can no longer be treated with a dental filling or a pulpotomy, we may need to extract it to protect the rest of the smile from spreading infection. We could also take our teeth that complicate orthodontic treatment, or to help improve the overall bite function and bite balance too. If a baby tooth doesn’t fall out on schedule, we could remove it to prevent problems with the permanent teeth arriving. For kids soon to leave their teen years, we could also remove wisdom teeth before they erupt and cause trouble. If the teeth represent complications too severe to be treated with a restoration, then we may need to extract them.
The Extraction Process
The process itself is fairly simple, and in some cases takes as little as 30 minutes. First, we want to make sure your little one is comfortable, so we administer a local anesthetic. We then provide dental sedation, so your child enters a more calm and relaxed state. This is especially helpful for those with special needs or high levels of anxiety. Once your child is comfortable, we then use forceps to gently remove the tooth in question.
Healing and Aftercare
Your little one will need to rest for the day and avoid strenuous activity. We recommend taking any medications we prescribe, and offer them soft foods for the first day or two. Don’t use straws, and tell them to avoid prodding the extraction site with their tongue. They should be very gentle when they brush and floss as well. We will monitor their smile in a follow-up visit to make sure everything is healing as it should. If you have any questions about how we address tooth extractions, or about our restorations like fillings and crowns, then contact our team today. Summer is a great time to schedule a checkup and cleaning visit too, so we can make sure they start school in the fall with stronger and healthier smiles!
Does Your Child Need an Appointment?
Our team wants to help kids in our community enjoy strong and healthy smiles, whether we need to restore a tooth or remove one completely. If you have any questions about our approach to oral surgery for children, then contact your Dallas, TX pediatric dentist, Dr. Marr, by calling (214) 321-4880.
filed under: Restorations for Kids