Pediatric Tooth Extractions

Pediatric tooth extractions is a common dental procedure among young children, itβs when their teeth are removed from the childβs mouth. We curated this guide to provide you with essential information about pediatric extractions, when they may be necessary to extract, the reasons and what to expect during your child’s appointment.
Understanding Pediatric Tooth Extractions:
Pediatric tooth extractions can range from the removal of one or more teeth in your childβs mouth. You will have a consultation with our doctors prior to the treatment date to discuss everything from medical history to which teeth need to be removed.
What are the Signs of Potential Tooth Extractions?
There can be many indications in your child’s mouth that can show that the teeth need to be extracted. The main reasons are severe tooth decay, infection, overcrowding or orthodontic treatment. We will delve deeper into each one of these signs below.
Whatβs the Importance of Tooth Extractions?
Itβs vital to remove the problematic teeth. The reason why we say this is to prevent further dental issues and it can aid the overall health of your child’s mouth.
What are the Common Reasons for Pediatric Tooth Extractions?
Severe Tooth Decay:
When you leave your childβs decayed tooth, it can progress to a point where the tooth cannot be saved by doing a pediatric dental filling or fitting a stainless steel crown.
Infection:
If you notice your childsβ tooth is infected and you donβt treat it, this may spread the infection to other parts of the mouth and extraction(s) will be required.
Orthodontic:
If your child is older, they may require braces or invisalign for a straight smile. Sometimes the orthodontist will need to have some of your childsβ teeth extracted to help create space for the proper tooth alignment with orthodontics.
Impacted Teeth:
Teeth can sometimes be trapped underneath the gum line and cannot erupt. A great example of this could be wisdom teeth. If this happens, the teeth will need to be extracted so it doesnβt cause strain on the other teeth.
What Does the Pediatric Extraction Procedure Look like?
The first step is the consultation, you will meet with our general anaesthesiologist, they will go through all of your childsβ medical history, which teeth will be extracted and more.
Most children who require extraction will either go under local anaesthesia or general anaesthesia; this can help eliminate the fear or anxiety and they can wake up with no recollection of the surgery.
Tooth Removal:
The dentist uses specialized instruments to help loosen the tooth and then they gently remove it from its place. This process is fairly quick since our dental anaesthesiologists are highly skilled and can perform tasks efficiently and effectively.
Post Extraction Care:
After the treatment is done and the child is conscious from being sedated, they will receive a piece of gauze to bite on. This will help control the bleeding and the parents will be given instructions for pain management and oral care.
What Does the Aftercare and Recovery Process Look like?
Pain management will be the first concern, we recommend over the counter pain relievers to help alleviate discomfort. However, every child is different and our dental anaesthesiologist will be there to give you more specific instructions. This also applies to your childsβ temporary diet on foods they can and cannot eat. An example is not being able to eat tough, chewy and hard foods.
A follow up appointment may be a necessity to make sure that the child is healing properly and if there are any concerns, then the doctor can help alleviate your stress.
To conclude, pediatric tooth extractions are very necessary to address dental issues or to help align your teeth during orthodontics. We hope that you could understand more about what to expect before and after the procedure.
If you have any questions or concerns about your childsβ oral health, please donβt hesitate to reach out to SmileTown: Just Kids Dentistry. Our phone number is (519) 749-9981 or you can submit a form below
FAQ
Is dental extraction safe for children?
Of course, kids’ dental extraction is usually conducted without risks under the care of a professional pediatrician. It is less painful and holds lesser risks due to the presence of anesthetic agents to pacify the child. Dentists tend to assess every child prior to the procedure to determine if that particular child requires a dental extraction. Care of the patient after the procedure has been carried out is important in healing, where the parent should abide by the dentistβs directions.
How can I prepare my child for a dental extraction?
Before a kid’s dental extraction, break down and explain the whole process to the child as carefully as possible. Remember to talk about looking after the patient, particularly with regard to how pain will be managed and the types of food that will be allowed. Maybe take a comfort item such as the childβs favourite toy. Lastly, choose an appropriate time for the appointment, especially when your child has had enough rest and is calm, for an easier experience.
Will my child experience pain during a dental extraction?
Kidsβ dental extraction can cause some discomfort for children, but pain is handled efficiently. Most dentists apply local anesthetics to a particular area; therefore, the child undergoes the procedure without feeling much pain. Following the extraction, some slight aches or inflammation may develop, which can be treated with common pain relief medications. It is important to seek the advice of your dentist at all times.
How can I help my child feel comfortable before a dental extraction?
In order to ease your child’s anxiety before a dental extraction, talk to the child and explain the procedure simply. Allow them to ask questions or express their feelings. Maybe take a comfort object like a favourite toy or a blanket. During the appointment, engage the child with stories, music, or videos. And finally, after the event, encourage them by praising their bravery in order to create positive feelings. Such steps can help children be more comfortable with kids’ dental extraction procedures.
Can my child eat normally after a dental extraction?
Following a kids’ dental extraction procedure, adults must be very keen on their childrenβs diet. They can eat normally, but it is advisable to stick with soft foods for the first 24 hours so as not to cause any discomfort. Soft foods like yogurt and mashed potatoes, or even applesauce, are nice examples. They should be encouraged to steer clear of hard, crunchy or hot foods to minimize discomfort and aid in recovery. Always adhere to your dentist’s particular recommendations.