Children's Tooth Extraction

Tooth extraction is a common procedure pediatric dentists perform to remove baby teeth that are damaged beyond repair or interfering with permanent teeth eruption.

There are two main types of tooth extractions performed in children:

• Simple extractions. Simple extractions are used to remove baby teeth that are loose or have already erupted.
• Surgical extractions. Surgical extractions are used to remove baby teeth that are impacted or difficult to remove.

Simple extractions are typically done in our office and do not require any stitches. We will numb the area with a local anesthetic and then use forceps to remove the tooth.

Surgical extractions may require more time and may require stitches. We will numb the area with a local anesthetic and then incision the gum tissue to remove the tooth.

After tooth extraction, we will apply a bandage to the area and may prescribe pain medication. The child may experience some discomfort, but most children recover quickly.

Here are some of the reasons why we may recommend a tooth extraction:

• Impacted teeth. Impacted teeth are teeth that are stuck in the gum tissue and cannot erupt on their own. Impacted teeth can cause pain, infection, and damage to the surrounding teeth.
• Dental decay. Dental decay is the breakdown of tooth enamel caused by bacteria. If dental decay is severe, it can cause a tooth to become loose or damaged beyond repair.
• Ruptured or fractured teeth. Ruptured or fractured teeth can occur due to injury or trauma. If a tooth is fractured, it may need to be extracted to prevent further damage.
• Space maintenance. When a baby tooth is lost prematurely, it can create a gap in the child's smile. This can lead to problems with the eruption of permanent teeth. Sometimes, we may recommend extracting a baby tooth to prevent a gap from forming.