Did you know that pediatric dental professionals estimate that anywhere from 15% to 20% of children have anxiety around visiting their provider? It’s natural for kids to fear things they don’t fully understand, and oral healthcare is often one of them.
This is especially true for more invasive procedures, like a tooth extraction. As a parent, you might wonder why your pediatric dentist suggested it or how you can help guide your child through it. Continue reading to learn more about what to expect from the process so you can help set their mind at ease!
Why Does My Child Need a Tooth Extraction?
Many parents are surprised to learn that their little one needs to have a troublesome tooth removed, especially if it’s one of their baby teeth. After all, they will fall out later on their own, so why put them through it?
Unfortunately, there are some circumstances where removing problematic primary teeth is necessary to ensure the adult teeth can continue developing safely. The reason can vary, but some possible underlying causes include:
- Physical trauma. If your kid fell or sustained a facial injury, it can affect their alveolar bone, gums, periodontal ligaments, and soft tissues of their lips and tongue which can impact how the stability of their permanent teeth.
- Severe decay. Cavities are contagious; they can spread to neighboring teeth and even affect the jawbone if left untreated for too long, which can hinder the adult teeth from growing properly.
- Overcrowding. If your child’s mouth is too small to accommodate all their teeth safely, they’ll overlap. This makes cleaning them harder, resulting in oral issues, and also can cause bite misalignments in the long term.
Will My Child’s Tooth Extraction Hurt?
Your dental team knows that kids get scared, and will do everything they can to keep them calm and comfortable the entire procedure. First, they’ll apply a local anesthetic to numb the troublesome tooth. Then, for a simple extraction, they might offer laughing gas to help your child sit still and reduce their body’s ability to perceive pain. For surgical extractions, general anesthesia will be applied to a small incision can be made in the gum tissue to access the tooth.
Afterward, your child might feel tender and sore for a few days. Their mouth must form a blood clot over the extraction site to protect the underlying nerves and bone tissue from a painful complication known as dry socket. Following all of your pediatric dentist’s post-op instructions is the best way to help your little one recover as quickly as possible.
Now that you know more about what to expect from your child’s tooth extraction, you can help set expectations so they can overcome their fear!
About the Author
Dr. Ryne Paulson has 6+ years of experience helping children at all stages of development build happy, healthy smiles. He earned his doctorate of dental surgery from Creighton University and then served a two-year residency throughout the islands of Hawaii. Now, he strives to help kids learn about their dental health while providing a full range of services to meet all their oral healthcare needs. He combines a fun and friendly atmosphere with state-of-the-art equipment to deliver top-quality treatments while enhancing patient comfort. If your child has a troublesome tooth, you can request an appointment on the website or call (307) 266-1997.