Tooth Extractions – Independence, MO
Get Your Child’s Oral Health Back on Track
Under ideal circumstances, your child’s primary (baby) teeth would fall out at just the right time, and their adult teeth would last throughout their lifetime. Sadly, though, situations can arise that make it necessary for us to remove one or more teeth. If you believe that your young one needs to undergo a tooth extraction, our Independence, MO, pediatric dental team is ready to get your child’s oral health back on track with this important restorative service.
Why Choose KC Kids Dental for Tooth Extractions?
- Sedation Available for Patient Comfort
- Same-Day Emergency Care Available
- Experienced & Empathetic Pediatric Dentist
Reasons Why Tooth Extractions Are Necessary
There are a few reasons why we might determine that it is necessary to remove one or more of your child’s teeth:
- A tooth has suffered severe damage or decay that cannot reasonably be repaired via more conservative treatments.
- A primary tooth has overstayed its welcome, and we must remove it so it does not interfere with the incoming adult teeth.
- We need to make room for orthodontia.
- A tooth is badly infected, and we need to remove it in order to stop the infection from spreading into nearby tissues.
The Process of Removing a Tooth
The tooth removal process is usually straightforward. It often goes like this:
- First, we make the patient comfortable. We numb the mouth and may administer sedation if appropriate.
- We use an instrument called an elevator to gently lift the tooth out of its socket.
- We grip the tooth with forceps and wiggle it back and forth to break the connective tissues keeping it in place.
- We clean the socket and use gauze to control bleeding.
Following an extraction, we may place a space holder so other teeth do not drift into the empty space and interfere with your child’s oral development. Or, if we removed a permanent tooth, we may talk to you about tooth replacement options.
Tooth Extraction Aftercare
Here are some things your child should do to facilitate an easy recovery after their procedure:
- Get plenty of rest
- Prop their head up on pillows when sleeping.
- Avoid drinking through a straw.
- Avoid touching the extraction site with their tongue or fingers.
- Regularly rinse with warm salt water (after the first 24 hours).
- Take any medications as recommended by our team.
- Maintain thorough oral hygiene (the extraction site should not be touched by a toothbrush before it heals somewhat).
- Stick to a soft diet.
Be sure to call us if your child experiences any unusual pain or other symptoms during their recovery; we are ready to help!
