Does your child’s tooth need to be extracted?

The reason for tooth extraction is varied, but in general tooth extraction will be recommended in the following cases:

Impaction: This is the most common reason wisdom teeth are extracted. When they are impacted, they are growing at an angle that will not allow them to erupt properly and/or that will cause existing teeth to shift as they continue to grow.

Overcrowding: Overcrowded teeth are removed if they will prevent other teeth from erupting. This can also be performed before fitting braces to allow your teeth to move into the ideal position.

Damage: In the case where a tooth has suffered from extensive damage, including damage caused by decay, and the tooth cannot be salvaged by other dental treatments the tooth will have to be extracted.

Infection: Severe tooth decay can spread to the inner section or “pulp” of the tooth. If not treated this infection can continue to spread to other teeth. In this case, root canal therapy will be advised to treat the infection. However, if the damage is too extensive, the tooth will have to be extracted.

How is a tooth extraction performed?

Dr. Pham can perform a tooth extraction using sedation and modern techniques to keep you comfortable. There are two types of tooth extractions:

Simple extraction: This procedure can be performed using a local anesthetic to keep your child comfortable during the extraction. Then tooth is loosened with an “elevator” and removed with forceps.

Surgical extraction: In this case, you will require local anesthesia and sedation to keep your child calm and relaxed during the extraction. It will require an incision in the gums and depending on the situation the need for the removal of bone around your tooth can also be required. Following the procedure sutures will be applied at the area of the incision.

Are there risks associated with tooth extraction?

Dr. Pham will only recommend extraction when absolutely necessary to improve your overall oral health. In most cases, as long as you follow the post-operative instructions your child should recover without issue.