When Tiny Teeth Need to Go
At times, it may be necessary to extract a tooth. This could be due to misshapen or long roots of a baby tooth preventing it from falling out naturally, decay posing a risk to surrounding teeth and jaw, infection, orthodontic issues, or problems with a wisdom tooth. Removing the tooth allows space for a permanent tooth to come in or prevents further complications.
If your child's tooth needs to be removed, the pediatric dentist may do it during a regular checkup or schedule another visit for the procedure. The tooth is held in a socket by a ligament, and the dentist must expand the socket and separate the tooth from the ligament to extract it. It is important to communicate any concerns or preferences for sedation with the dentist to ensure your child's comfort during the procedure.
The day following your child's tooth extraction:
Please avoid using straws for drinking and refrain from rinsing and spitting forcefully. It is recommended to stick to a soft diet and avoid foods with sharp edges like popcorn, pretzels, pizza, crackers. If your child is in discomfort, give them a children's dose of Advil® or Tylenol®. In case of swelling, use a cold cloth or ice bag and reach out to our office.