Kids Tooth Extractions San Luis Obispo
Removing Problematic Teeth When Necessary
Losing baby teeth and getting adult ones are an exciting part of growing up! However, while your child has them and after their permanent teeth come through, it’s important to protect and preserve these teeth whenever possible. In fact, their adult teeth are meant to last for the rest of their lives! However, sometimes purposefully removing a tooth is the best or only solution to protect the rest of your child’s smile. If this is the case for you and your kid, rest assured that Coastal Pediatric Dentistry will take excellent care and help them get through this procedure with a healthier, happier smile.
Why Choose Coastal Pediatric Dentistry for Kids Tooth Extractions?
- Same-Day Emergency Appointments Available
- Board-Certified Pediatric Dentists with Kids of Their Own
- Safe Sedation Options Available to Ease Anxiety
Reasons Why Tooth Extractions Are Necessary
Stubborn, Late Baby Teeth
By the time your child reaches their teenage years, they should have lost their primary or baby teeth. However, you should typically wait until they feel ready to come out naturally. If a couple have remained beyond a certain age, it may become necessary to remove them to allow the permanent teeth enough space to erupt and/or straighten.
Tooth Decay
Cavities are the most common childhood condition in the entire world, and they can negatively impact nearly every facet of your child’s life. Fortunately, in many cases, pulp therapy and root canal treatment can resolve some advanced cases of tooth decay, allowing your child to keep their natural tooth structure for as long as possible. When this isn’t feasible, however, extraction may be the best choice. For badly decayed baby teeth, space maintainers may be put in to keep room open for the permanent teeth. If a permanent tooth must be removed, we can talk to you about getting a bridge or other replacement option.
Gum Infection
Although not as common among youth as adults, gum disease can still afflict children and teens. This infection weakens the support teeth receive, making them feel loose and eventually resulting in irreversible tooth loss.
The Process of Removing a Tooth
Once we determine that extraction is the best course of action, we will schedule the procedure for another day. We’ll start by potentially numbing the area of your child’s mouth with a local anesthetic. In some situations, such as when extracting a permanent tooth, we may strongly recommend using sedation like nitrous oxide or even deeper alternatives if your child feels especially anxious or sensitive to pain.
Depending on the complexity of the roots for the tooth, we can take several approaches. For baby teeth, which have short roots, as well as for straightforward, erupted permanent teeth, just gentle rocking back and forth usually loosens the connection with the gums and jawbone, resulting in the release of the tooth. If, however, the tooth is still submerged in the gum tissue, we will need to create a small opening and surgically take it out. Keep in mind that the tooth may come out more easily if it’s broken into smaller pieces. Afterward, the tissue is closed back up with sutures.
Tooth Extraction Aftercare
The short time that follows a tooth extraction is critical for your child’s recovery. While the site heals and covers the opening left by the tooth, a blood clot forms to shield the vulnerable tissue from bacteria. This clot must stay in place until it naturally comes eventually. As a result, for the first 24 to 48 hours, your child must not use a straw or have extremely hot or cold foods or beverages, but they should only have soft foods for at least several days afterward. They should also stop rigorous activities or exercise for at least a few days. About a week after the extraction, your child should be able to eat normal foods and return to their usual activity level without fear of dislodging the clot prematurely and causing a complication called dry socket.