Reasons to Remove a Child’s Tooth

Healthy baby teeth help a child learn how to eat and speak while holding space for their underlying adult teeth. To provide a healthy foundation for their future permanent teeth, these first temporary teeth require daily care at home and routine care at the dentist.

Because these teeth are so valuable to your child’s growth and development, we generally only remove baby teeth if absolutely necessary. It’s ideal to keep baby teeth healthy and let them fall out when they are ready. Kids usually lose their baby teeth between ages 6-12, with their baby molars and canines sticking around the longest.

When Is a Tooth Extraction Necessary?

However, our team may recommend removal of a baby tooth to protect your child from pain, infection, and oral health issues. If, for example:

• A tooth infection has spread to the root and formed an abscess
• A baby tooth is causing overcrowding and issues with the underlying adult teeth
• Trauma has caused extensive damage to the tooth
• The integrity of a tooth has been compromised by a severe cavity and it can’t be supported with a filling or a crown

Are Tooth Extractions Painful?

If your child needs a tooth extraction for whatever reason, you can rest assured that they will be in good hands at Tots to Teens Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics. Our team goes above and beyond to help each patient have as comfortable and painless experience as possible for every treatment. During a gentle tooth extraction at our office, we always use a local anesthetic to completely numb the affected area so they will only feel a small amount of pressure, if anything.

Recovery Tips After an Extraction

We will provide you with detailed recovery instructions. Have your child rest, drink plenty of water, and eat nutritious foods that won’t irritate their extraction site. We recommend easy-to-eat foods like applesauce, bananas, yogurt, smoothies, pureed soups, baked sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, and macaroni and cheese. Additionally, they should avoid vigorous physical activity and drinking from straws.

Is your child experiencing tooth pain or another issue with their tooth? Please contact us today to schedule an appointment at Tots to Teens Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics!

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Extraction image from Authority Dental under CC 2.0

Categorised in: Emergency Dental Care, Restorative Dental Care