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Why Would My Child Need a Baby Tooth Extracted?

January 14, 2021

Why Would My Child Need a Baby Tooth Extracted?

We, at Jet Set Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, cannot overemphasize the importance of baby teeth and the role they play in a child’s future oral health. Not only do they help with chewing and speech development, but they also help maintain the correct structure of the mouth and jawbone and act as placeholders for the permanent teeth developing behind the scenes. Our team never spares any effort to preserve a child’s natural baby tooth. If, however, saving a tooth is not a viable option, we may recommend a simple extraction.

Why Would Your Child Require an Extraction?

There are various reasons a baby tooth may require extraction. Our pledge to you is that we will do everything possible to ensure your child is comfortable before, during, and after the extraction procedure. 

Here are some reasons a child would require tooth extraction:

  • Severe decay or infection can sometimes cause too much damage to allow for safe and effective restoration.
  • In a serious injury, a baby tooth may be cracked, loosened, or impacted and may need to be removed.
  • Extraction may be necessary if a primary tooth does not fall out before the permanent one comes in.
  • We sometimes remove baby teeth as a component of an orthodontic treatment plan to allow the remaining teeth to shift into alignment.

What Should You Expect?

With modern dentistry techniques, a baby tooth extraction is a relatively quick and straightforward procedure. We will start by administering a local anesthetic to numb the area for your child’s comfort. If your child is anxious, we can provide nitrous oxide inhaled sedation to safely help your child relax while still awake and responsive to directions. We will gently remove the affected tooth, and your child won’t feel a thing. Children typically resume their normal day-to-day activities about 24 hours after the procedure. If you have any questions or concerns, please make sure to let us know.

How Can You Help Promote Healing?

For two to three days after the extraction, your child will need to stay away from carbonated beverages, sucking through a straw, vigorous rinsing, and forceful spitting. Your little one will need to eat soft foods such as pudding, mashed potatoes, jello, or ice cream. Crunchy foods such as popcorn or crackers are an absolute no-no.

If your child has any discomfort, a pediatrician approved pain medication such as Tylenol will help. If your child has any swelling, place a cold compress on the area and immediately contact our office. Please make sure to follow the post-extraction care instructions we will provide to promote healing.

What Is a Space Maintainer?

After extracting a baby tooth, we may recommend placing a space maintainer. The custom-fit oral device will maintain the space needed for the incoming permanent tooth to erupt correctly. Space maintainers can help reduce or may even eliminate the need for orthodontic treatments down the road.

Healthy Habits for Healthy Smiles

Keeping your child’s teeth healthy will prevent damage that can ultimately lead to tooth loss or the need for extraction. We recommend starting with proper oral hygiene practices at a very young age. Even babies and toddlers need to have their teeth cleaned. Make sure to visit Jet Set Smiles Pediatric Dentistry twice a year for your child’s routine dental exams and cleanings. That will allow us to identify any issues early on when easiest to treat.

Teeth Extractions in Phoenix, AZ

Contact Jet Set Smiles Pediatric Dentistry to schedule your child’s routine dental exam and cleaning. We will monitor your child’s teeth to make sure they stay in tip-top shape. If an extraction is necessary, our gentle approach and sedation dentistry options allow even our most anxious young patients to relax. Call us today!