Extractions

Posted on 11/17/2017

extract17Nov2017The pediatric dentists and staff at Larry Caldwell, DDS & Associates make it their number one priority to care for their Sugar Land, Wharton, Richmond, and Rosenberg patients using the latest technology and oral health initiatives. That includes keeping kids' mouth free of disease and preserving their original teeth. However, there may be a time when your child will need to have a tooth removed, perhaps due to tooth overcrowding, damage, a stubborn baby tooth, or future orthodontic treatment.

When this occurs, you can count on our trusted pediatric dentistry to provide high-quality, professional service that will efficiently and expertly remove the tooth in question.

About Tooth Extraction

Tooth extraction is usually a routine, minor procedure. Its difficulty is based on the location of the tooth that is being removed. For instance, a tooth in the front of the mouth that has a single straight root is easier to remove than a molar in the back that has several roots. Meanwhile an impacted wisdom tooth that is below the surface of the gum is most difficult to remove.

You may not realize it, but your teeth are actually only attached to your jaw bone with fibers that can be carefully loosened to free the tooth. So, regardless of the level of difficulty, tooth extraction is a common occurrence that our pediatric dentists can easily complete.

When Do You Need A Tooth Extraction?

Tooth extractions happen for a variety of reasons. If your pediatric dentist determines an extraction is your child's best treatment option, he will be sure to discuss the details and fully explain why you need the procedure. These reasons may include:

  • Damaged Tooth - Teeth can be irreparably damaged in a number of ways. Your child may have suffered an injury or accident to the mouth affecting the teeth. Or your child may have serious or repeating tooth decay. Our pediatric dentists will always try to repair and save an existing damaged tooth by using treatment methods. However, in some cases it might be best to extract the tooth and replace it with a solid dental implant, which can look and function like an original tooth.
  • Impacted Wisdom Tooth - At Larry Caldwell, DDS & Associates, our pediatric dentists monitor our patients' teeth with great care from the very first visit. Through routine exams, we can keep an eye on wisdom teeth to ensure that they are moving into your mouth as they should. However, when wisdom teeth become impacted, or don't push through the gums properly, they can damage healthy teeth, gums, jaw bone, and nerves. In this case, the dentist may recommend extracting the wisdom tooth before its roots are fully formed.
  • Stubborn Baby Tooth - Your child's baby teeth will usually fall out in their own time in the best order for his or her permanent teeth to come in normally. But, occasionally a baby tooth can be stubborn and will need to be extracted. Undergoing such an extraction may keep your child from needing orthodontic treatment later.
  • Overcrowded Mouth - Our pediatric dentists will extract teeth when there is just not enough room in your child's mouth for the teeth that are coming in, or in preparation for braces or another form orthodontic treatment. Orthodontists often need the additional space in the mouth gained by tooth extraction for your child's remaining teeth to be moved and aligned in the proper way. For orthodontic treatment, the teeth that are usually removed are the first premolars, next the canines or eyeteeth.

How Will My Tooth Be Extracted?

Your Larry Caldwell, DDS team will walk you through each step of the extraction process including:

  1. X-rays. We will take X-rays of your child's teeth to determine the exact position of the tooth's roots and to find out what kind of condition the bone around the tooth is in. These X-rays will be used to foresee any potential challenges with your extraction.
  2. Medical History. The dentist will review your child's medical history to make sure you are healthy enough for the procedure and discuss anesthesia options with you. Then your child's appointment will be set.
  3. Anesthesia. At your child's appointment, the dentist will administer a local anesthesia that will numb the tooth to be extracted and the gums surrounding it. We can use additional sedatives as needed, such as: oral sedative pills, nitrous oxide gas, or intravenous sedation. Complete sedation is usually only required for more challenging tooth extractions or when your child has more than one tooth that needs to be extracted.
  4. Extraction. The dentist will carefully loosen the tendon fibers around your child's tooth, being careful to make sure that the bone surrounding the tooth is not damaged. If the extraction is going to lead to the placement of a dental implant or orthodontics, our dentists will sometimes place a tiny amount of lab-processed bone-grafting material into the tooth socket to retain the bone volume.
  5. Recovery. Recovery time should be minimal. Immediately after the tooth extraction, your child's dentist will apply pressure with sterile gauze for 10 - 20 minutes to control any bleeding. A few small stitches may also be utilized.
  6. At Home. Our pediatric dentists may prescribe antibiotics to enhance healing and make sure that the tooth extraction doesn't result in infection. Patients routinely encounter some mild swelling or irritation after a tooth extraction. You may want to give your child ibuprofen or other anti-inflammatory drugs to ease this discomfort. You may also want to use ice packs on the outside of your child's jaw and have him or her eat softer foods until the discomfort subsides. Within a few days your child's mouth should be back to normal.

Call Your Local Pediatric Dentistry Today!

If you think your child may need a tooth extraction, contact Larry Caldwell, DDS & Associates today and speak with our experienced team and learn what options may be right for your child. We're here to help answer any questions you may have about tooth extraction and complete oral health. Together, we can help your child maintain a healthy mouth that will result in a happier, healthier smile!