Kids will naturally lose all of their baby teeth by the age of 12, but losing a baby tooth prematurely can negatively affect their oral development, so it’s very important to keep your child’s baby teeth healthy.
First, your child’s mouth will be cleaned and numbed. We also offer sedation in Towne Lake at Cavity Patrol Pediatric Dentistry, so your child can stay calm and comfortable throughout their tooth extraction procedure.
Dr. Julia or Dr. Chun will use a special dental tool to wiggle your child’s tooth loose, and prepare it for extraction. Once the tooth is loose and ready to be extracted, they will grab it with a pair of dental forceps and remove it from the socket.
Your child’s extraction site will be cleaned, sanitized, and sutured to ensure it heals properly. If your child needs multiple extractions, the extraction process will be repeated.
Yes, but this depends on whether they lose a baby tooth or an adult tooth. If your child loses a baby tooth, they will need to come back to Cavity Patrol Pediatric Dentistry in a few weeks to get a “space maintainer.”
As the name implies, a space maintainer is placed in the gap in your child’s smile where their missing tooth used to be. This prosthetic is necessary because the baby teeth help form the “paths” that your child’s adult teeth will follow when they erupt. If you don’t get a space maintainer, your child’s baby teeth may shift, which could interfere with proper oral development.
For kids who have adult teeth extracted, a replacement tooth will be necessary. Depending on your budget, your child’s age, and which tooth/teeth they have lost, Dr. Julia or Dr. Chun may recommend a dental implant, a dental bridge, or a partial denture. With restorative treatment from Cavity Patrol Pediatric Dentistry, you can restore your child’s smile, bite, and oral health right away.
It will take about 1-2 weeks for your child to fully recover after their tooth extraction. Among other aftercare steps, you will need to feed your child a diet of mostly soft foods, ensure they do not brush near the extraction site for a few days, and make sure they don’t spit forcefully or use a straw for at least 24-48 hours after their extraction.
Dr. Julia or Dr. Chun will provide you with a comprehensive set of instructions that your child will need to follow after their extraction. Follow these to the letter to make sure your little one’s mouth heals quickly after their treatment.
Kids will naturally lose all of their baby teeth by the age of 12, but losing a baby tooth prematurely can negatively affect their oral development, so it’s very important to keep your child’s baby teeth healthy.