In an ideal world, your child’s primary teeth (also called baby teeth) would come out at exactly the right time, and their adult teeth would stay with them throughout their lifetime. However, the sad reality is that circumstances can arise that necessitate tooth extractions for kids in Marietta. If you believe that your young one needs to have one or more teeth removed, get in touch with us. We will assess the situation and do all we can to get your child’s oral health back on track.
Why Choose Woodland Pediatric Dentistry for Tooth Extractions?
- Sedation Available for Patient Comfort
- Prompt Care for Emergency Cases
- Empathetic Dentist and Team
Reasons Why Tooth Extractions Are Necessary
There are a number of reasons why we might determine that one or more of your child’s teeth must be removed:
- A tooth has incurred severe decay or damage that cannot be repaired by a filling or other restorative treatments.
- A primary tooth did not fall out on time, and we must remove it so it does not cause problems for the incoming adult teeth.
- We need to make room in the mouth for orthodontic devices, such as a braces.
- A tooth is infected, and we must remove it to stop the infection from affecting nearby tissues.
The Process of Removing a Tooth
In most cases, the process of removing a tooth is straightforward. It usually goes like this:
- First, we aim to make the patient comfortable. We numb the mouth and, if necessary, may administer sedation as well.
- We use an instrument known as an elevator to carefully lift the tooth out of its socket.
- Gripping the tooth with forceps, we rock it back and forth in order to break the connective tissues holding it in place.
- We clean out the socket and use gauze to keep any bleeding under control.
Depending on your child’s circumstances, we might place a space holder after their extraction so their remaining natural teeth do not drift out of place. Or, in cases where we remove a permanent tooth, we may have to talk about future tooth replacement options.
Tooth Extraction Aftercare
Here are some steps your child should take after their procedure in order to facilitate an easy and complication-free recovery:
- Get plenty of rest.
- Keep their head propped up on pillows when sleeping.
- Avoid the use of drinking straws.
- Avoid touching the extraction site with their fingers or tongue.
- Regularly swish with warm salt water (starting 24 hours after the extraction).
- Take any medications, such as painkillers or antibiotics, as recommended by our team.
- Maintain a clean mouth (the extraction site should not be touched by a toothbrush before it heals somewhat).
- Eat soft, no-chew foods.
Give us a call if your child experiences severe pain or any other unusual symptoms after their extraction; we are always ready to help!
Understanding the Cost of Tooth Extractions
No one wants a tooth extraction. Your child’s dentist will only ever recommend one if deemed absolutely necessary. One concern you may have about your child’s tooth extraction is the cost. We won’t know exactly how much the cost of their treatment will be until we see your child in person. At that time, we will go over financial information in detail so that you don’t encounter any surprises. In the meantime, here are some things to take into consideration.
Children’s Tooth Extractions FAQs
No matter the procedure, many of our patients are worried that it will be painful. Fortunately, whether your child is having one tooth extracted or multiple, the first step is always to numb the area with a local anesthetic. Sedation options are also available for our more anxious patients. Your child will likely feel some soreness for a few days after the procedure, but this can be managed by recommended over-the-counter and/or prescribed pain relievers. Be sure to closely follow Dr. Vahid’s aftercare instructions so that your child can heal as quickly and comfortably as possible.
Preparing for a tooth extraction is just as important as following the aftercare instructions. Before your child’s procedure, be sure to ask any questions you have, including what to bring and what your child should eat the morning of. If Dr. Vahid has any specific instructions, like having your child only consume water the morning of or for you to pick up a prescription, plan for this accordingly.
The recovery period will vary from child to child. They should stick to soft, high-nutrient foods for a few days after their procedure and avoid crunchy foods for about a week so the extraction site is not aggravated. Encourage your child to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated after the procedure to promote healing – just don’t use a straw! Your child should regularly swish their mouth with warm salt water starting 24 hours after the extraction. Administer any medications as directed. Most children recover from extractions within a few days. Your child should feel pretty much back to normal after about a week.
Some inflammation is normal after a tooth extraction. It’s all part of the healing process and should subside after a few days. To reduce inflammation after the procedure, apply a cold compress to your child’s face where the extraction site is located. Give your child their prescribed medications as directed by their dentist.