What You Need To Know About Tooth Extraction

There are several reasons why a tooth would need to be removed, which could be due to oral trauma, or teeth decay, or simply for cosmetic reasons. It can be particularly necessary for the pediatric age group too.

Tooth extraction is the painless removal of a tooth or tooth roots with minimum trauma to the surrounding tissues so that the extraction socket wound heals uneventfully and without any post-operative complications. This article would help understand the process, why it’s necessary, and what to do after an extraction.

Why Are Teeth Removed In Children?

Children visit the dentist for tooth extraction for some reasons as described below:

• When there is decay or infection deep into the tooth.
• Trauma or injury to the teeth from sports and trivial plays
• When there isn’t enough room for all the teeth in your child’s mouth
• Also when your kid’s baby teeth don’t fall out in time for the permanent teeth to come in
• Wisdom teeth, also called third molars, are often extracted either before or after they come in.

There are emergency dentists in Conway to attend to your child in the case that they need to.

What Happens During A Tooth Extraction?

What happens first before a tooth is removed is that your dentist will thoroughly review the medical and dental history of your child by asking you relevant questions and then proceed to take the appropriate X-rays. The X-rays reveal the length, shape, and position of the tooth and surrounding bone with this information central to determining the best way to remove the tooth or whether to refer you to an oral surgeon or orthodontist.

Before the removal process commences, the area around the tooth will be numbed using a local anesthetic. You may be required to hold your child as children are generally unstable and may cry a lot during the procedure. For very unstable children, a general anesthetic may be used for the short duration of the procedure.

Two types of extractions can be done:

A simple extraction is the removal of a tooth that is visible in your child’s mouth. During a simple extraction, the dentist numbs the tooth and gum tissue and then loosens the tooth with an instrument called an elevator before removing it with dental forceps.

A surgical extraction is a more complex procedure used for a tooth that may have broken off at the gum line or has not come into the mouth yet. Oral surgeons usually perform surgical extractions; however, general dentists can perform them as well.

For guaranty of safe and professional service as regards, dental surgery, or tooth extraction and you need a kid’s dentist near you, there are emergency pediatric dentists in Conway who are quite skilled in this and can assure you of quality service for your child.

What Happens After A Tooth Extraction?

After your kid has had a tooth extracted, you will need to help them take care of their mouth and recover and heal faster.

Pediatric dentists in Conway recommend that to minimize pain, ensure that your child takes all prescribed medicine as directed, and to reduce swelling, you can help put an ice pack on the cheek near the extraction site and apply the ice pack for 5-10 minutes.

After the pain may have subsided, children are prone to wanting to start playing or running around. Hence as the caregiver, ensure you limit your child’s activities for the first 24 hours after extraction with the encouragement to go to bed early.

Below are some other things to do to help your child heal faster:

Eating a diet of soft, healthy foods and snacks and also drinking of plenty liquids.

Ensure that you brush their teeth gently and also avoiding to brush around the extraction. It’s advised that you don’t use any toothpaste as rinsing toothpaste from your mouth may dislodge the blood clot.

On the other hand, below are some things to avoid while you’re healing:

Don’t allow them to drink with a straw as sucking on a straw may dislodge the blood clot.

Don’t give hot liquids to drink. Hot liquids have been found to increase swelling.

Once your child is fully healed, always remember to remain in regular contact with your child’s dentist and never skip appointments. You can always contact a Conway kid’s dentist as advised above so you get all the information you need.