When A Child Needs A Tooth Extracted

Posted July 1, 2022

Sometimes, a tooth cannot be treated with a dental filling or a crown. Sometimes, protecting the health and stability of the smile could mean the tooth in question needs to be removed. In today’s blog, your Dallas, TX, pediatric dentist talks about when a child needs a tooth extraction, and how we make this procedure a comfortable one.

The Extraction Process

First, rest assured we will take plenty of steps to ensure your child is comfortable. Our team is experienced in talking with kids and helping them feel relaxed. We can also provide a local anesthetic for the area being treated, and dental sedation to help children enter a deep state of calm. Once your child is ready, we can gently extract the tooth in question with a pair of forceps, and provide detailed after care instructions to facilitate a complication-free healing period. Most kids return to normal activities after a day of rest, and the entire procedure itself could take as little as 30 minutes.

Why Small Smiles Need Them

We may remove a tooth that is too decayed or infected to be treated, because otherwise leaving it in could allow infection to reach other teeth. We also take out teeth too damaged for repair with a crown, or if we need to make room for orthodontic treatment. Our team could extract teeth to help improve bite function and chewing capabilities, and for older kids, to remove wisdom teeth before they erupt and cause major problems with the function and appearance of the smile. Extraction could also be necessary if baby teeth don’t fall out on time. Essentially, when an issue arises too severe for a crown or filling, this could be necessary to protect the smile from major complications.

Aftercare

Your little one may be a bit groggy following treatment as the effects of the sedation wear off. For the first day, offer them soft foods and avoid the use of straws. Remind them not to poke the area with their tongue and to be gentle when brushing and flossing, as clots need to form as part of the healing process. They will also need to take any prescribed medications as recommended. If you have any questions about how we treat oral health issues for kids, and how we ensure they enjoy a comfortable treatment experience, then contact our team today.

Do You Have Questions About Tooth Extraction?

We would like to help children preserve the health and function of the smile, and sometimes that means actually removing a tooth completely. If you have any questions about how we safely and comfortably remove a tooth, then contact your Dallas, TX pediatric dentist, Dr. Marr, by calling (214) 321-4880.