When To Seek A Tooth Extraction
Our team often repair and preserve teeth with a dental filling or a crown, preventing the loss of a tooth and saving kids from uncomfortably symptoms. But what if an issue arises that cannot be restored with one of these solutions? To help protect their smile, your Dallas, TX, pediatric dentist may recommend a tooth extraction!
The Need to Extract a Tooth
A tooth could require removal for a number of different reasons. For example, to improve bite balance and chewing function, or to even aid in orthodontic treatment, leaving room to shift teeth into proper positions. Our team could prescribe tooth extraction to prevent the spread of infection from severely damaged or decayed teeth, or to address primary teeth that haven’t fallen out as they should. For teens, we could recommend this to take out wisdom teeth before they erupt, preventing major complications for the smile, such as impaction, infection, or dental misalignment.
Relaxing Kids with Sedation
We want to help your children feel comfortable and relaxed, so their visits prevent demineralization and leave them more likely to continue care into adulthood. First, we will use a local anesthetic to numb the tooth being removed. We could also offer sedation to help your child enter a calm and relaxed state, such as nitrous oxide, oral sedation, or IV. The option we choose will depend on your child’s anxiety levels, medical history, age, and weight, among other factors. A trained anesthesiologist will be on hand to monitor them throughout the process!
Removal and Aftercare
Once your children are comfortable, we will carefully loosen the tooth and then gently remove it with a pair of forceps. You can then take your child home, and he or she will need to rest for the day. We urge kids to avoid using straws, being gently brushing and flossing, and avoid poking the area with their tongues, as clots need to form to aid in the healing process. For the first day or two, make sure they eat soft foods and get plenty of rest.
If you have any questions about how we provide extractions for kids, or if you would like to schedule your child’s next checkup and cleaning visit, then contact our team today to learn more. We look forward to helping your children start 2023 with a strong and healthy smile, and that begins with a simple checkup and cleaning visit, so give us a call soon.
Schedule Your Child’s Visit Soon!
If you have questions about restorative dental care and children’s dentistry, or if you would like to schedule an appointment for extraction, we invite you to contact your Dallas, TX pediatric dentist, Dr. Marr, by calling (214) 321-4880. Let’s help your kids enjoy their best possible smiles!
filed under: Restorations for Kids