The idea of tooth extraction can seem a little intimidating to anyone, especially kids. But Floss Boss can help make every stage of this general dentistry process seem smoother and calmer.
Our Approach to Pediatric Tooth Extractions
Helping families in Flemington, Hillsborough, and Phillipsburg, dentist Dr. Kruti Sanghavi suggests tooth extractions in the direst circumstances. She might consider a tooth extraction if this type of treatment will:
· Relieve discomfort caused by tooth decay or damage
· Eliminate future dental problems
· Save the remaining teeth from infection
Still, suppose a tooth extraction is necessary. In that case, Floss Boss provides extensive sedation and anesthesia services, including hospital dentistry at Capital Health Hospital, to ensure that patients and families feel as comfortable as possible during this procedure.
Does my child need a dental extraction?
Although dental extraction is considered a last resort, your child might need to undergo a tooth extraction in the following cases:
- Tooth Decay: Baby teeth are more prone to decay (cavities) because they have thinner enamel than adult teeth. Also, some children struggle to effectively brush and floss their teeth. So, cavities can form if proper oral hygiene is not maintained. When left untreated, cavities can lead to severe conditions and infect the neighboring teeth. Extraction of primary teeth can save the situation and prevent damage to emerging adult teeth.
- Trauma or injury: Your child’s permanent teeth can get damaged due to trauma or injury. If your child’s dental injury is severe enough, it may warrant a dental extraction.
- Gum disease: Inflammation of gingival tissues can cause swelling and bleeding of gums. If left untreated, this can cause periodontal disease, which is a serious, irreversible oral condition that can potentially infect gums, teeth, and jawbones. In advanced cases of periodontal disease, the treatment might involve tooth extractions. However, this is rare in children—but prevalent as people age.
- Impacted wisdom teeth: If your kid or teen shows early signs of impacted wisdom teeth, our Flemington pediatric dentist might suggest tooth extraction to prevent further impaction or damage to adjacent teeth.
- Orthodontic treatment: Sometimes, severe overcrowding must be remedied with targeted tooth extraction before starting orthodontic treatment. Removing a few teeth can make more room in the jaw for perfect alignment.
What happens during tooth removal?
Before deciding on dental extraction, Dr. Sanghavi will try to see if there are more conservative methods that could save your child’s smile. If not, she will delicately explain every step of the process before proceeding.
First, she will sedate and numb the surgical site to help the child feel more relaxed (and virtually no pain). Then, she will carefully remove the tooth from the socket and suture the surgical site.
When dental extraction is the only children’s dentistry option presented, Dr. Sanghavi might suggest ways to temporarily replace the tooth until the adult tooth erupts. For instance, she might suggest a space maintainer to prevent the other teeth from sliding out of place.
Pulling a Tooth Now Could Help Your Child in the Long Run
If your child suffers from any of the above issues, contact us at Floss Boss. Dr. Sanghavi is a board-certified pediatric dentist who will thoroughly check your child’s oral health and decide the best treatment solution. Contact us at (908) 860-8913 or request an appointment online!
