4 Things You Should Know About Removing Primary Teeth

29 Jul. 2021

With good dental hygiene, your child will likely never have a primary tooth extracted. However, primary teeth removal may be inevitable in some cases. Having a tooth pulled out can be hard and scary for children as they often don’t know what to expect. Gaining more knowledge about things involved in this process is essential to prepare your child for the procedure. 

Continue reading to learn more about the removal of primary teeth and ways to make this treatment easier on your child. 

1. Reasons for primary tooth extractions
Primary teeth are typically removed if they’re decayed, impacted, cracked, loosened, or otherwise severely damaged. An infected primary tooth may also need to be extracted. If other treatments like root canals or fillings aren’t enough to save the tooth, extraction is the most viable treatment option. That’s because it can prevent infection from affecting other parts of the mouth and helps stop the discomfort and tooth pain that your child is dealing with.  

2. It’s typically a last resort
Preserving primary teeth when possible is almost always a better course of action. That’s because premature removal may result in complications when primary teeth will start to come in. Your child’s first teeth help develop a pathway for permanent teeth to follow when they start to appear, typically when your child is 4 to 7 years old.   

If a primary tooth gets pulled before the eruption of the adult tooth, the neighboring ones can move to close the gap, resulting in various complications. Your pediatric dentist should do everything possible to preserve your child’s tooth and prevent extraction. 

3. Ways to prepare for tooth extraction
In rare cases when the extraction is unavoidable, few things can help ease the process and make it less frightening for your child. Consider doing the following things to ensure your child is comfortable and safe during the treatment: 

• Choose a proper dental specialist. Look for a pediatric dentist who treats kids with compassion and generosity, making sure they’re comfortable during the process. 

• Consider sedation. Depending on your child’s age, there are several sedation options available to ease the kids tooth extraction and prevent unnecessary discomfort. 

• Follow the tooth extraction aftercare. Once the tooth is removed, your pediatric dentist will provide you with a full set of aftercare instructions. In general, make sure your child avoids eating anything hard or drinking through a straw within the first 24 hours after the treatment. Always keep an eye on your child and prevent them from doing anything that can result in complications.  

4. Types of primary tooth extraction
Tooth extractions are performed in two ways, simple and surgical. A simple extraction involves removing the primary teeth that have already erupted and are visible in the mouth. Your pediatric dentist will use a special instrument called an elevator to loosen the tooth and then pull it out with forceps. This method often involves the use of local anesthetic. 

A surgical extraction is preferable when the tooth is still inside the jaw or is partially concealed by a jawbone. This procedure is performed with nitrous oxide or local anesthetic. Sometimes, your dentist may recommend using general anesthesia or IV sedation. 

The bottom line
Remember that extracting damaged primary teeth is necessary to prevent severe infections that can compromise your child’s entire mouth and impact their overall health. To make sure your child is safe and comfortable during the procedure, choose an experienced and reputable pediatric dentist who will determine the appropriate kind of extraction and sedation required. Besides, follow your dentist’s aftercare instructions to prevent your child from experiencing any complications after the treatment. 

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