Tooth Extractions
Sometimes a child’s tooth needs to be removed when it’s been damaged by injury, disease, or severe decay, or when it’s creating problems for their developing smile and future orthodontic needs.
Pediatric Tooth Extraction
Removing a primary (baby) tooth is a common procedure for children. Baby teeth play an important role in your child’s oral health, but sometimes taking one out is the best step to support healthy growth of their mouth, jaw and future teeth. Extractions are usually quick, and we use anesthesia to keep your child comfortable throughout the visit.
The most important part comes afterward—helping your child heal.
Have your child gently bite on a gauze pad for the first two hours after the appointment so a proper blood clot can form. Encourage them not to chew on the gauze or spit, since this can make bleeding harder to control and slow healing. To reduce swelling, place an ice pack on the outside of their cheek. Once swelling has eased, a warm compress can bring extra comfort. Gentle rinses with warm salt water will also help keep the area clean as it heals.
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Why would my child need a tooth extraction?
A child may need a tooth extraction if a tooth is severely decayed, damaged from injury, infected, or causing crowding or orthodontic issues that affect their developing smile.
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What are the steps of a pediatric tooth extraction?
A pediatric tooth extraction typically includes numbing the area, gently loosening the tooth, removing it, then placing gauze to help form a blood clot and start the healing process.
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What will help my child with tooth extraction recovery?
Keeping gauze in place to form a blood clot, using ice to reduce swelling, offering soft foods, and avoiding spitting or using straws will help your child heal comfortably after a tooth extraction.
More questions?
If you have more questions about pediatric tooth extractions, please contact our office and we will be happy to discuss further. You can also request an appointment or see the other services we provide using the links below.
