Extractions | Welcome to Westerville Pediatric Dental

Extractions:

The goal is always to keep teeth healthy and present in the mouth. Sometimes a tooth is unrestorable, meaning a filling won’t work to save the tooth. When too much of a tooth has been damaged, we may recommend an extraction (or tooth removal). Delaying a recommended tooth extraction may lead to pain, infection, and hospitalization. We offer several types of sedation to keep your child comfortable.

Extraction indications include:

Unrestorable or severely broken down teeth.
Active dental infection is affecting the pulp and surrounding bone.
Teeth prescribed by an orthodontist for extraction.
Strategic extraction to encourage normal tooth eruption.
Baby teeth that are overly-retained.
Extra teeth affecting are normal tooth eruption.

The steps to a dental extraction include:

We use age-appropriate language to discuss the procedure and make your child relaxed.
“Laughing gas” or another type of sedation is typically used to comfort your child.
Your child is shown the gauze tissue to dry the gums.
Once the gauze tissues thoroughly dry the area, and the jelly is applied for a few minutes to allow topical anesthesia to start the numbing process.
Your child is shown a “tooth chair” to bite down on before the tissues and jelly are applied.
Your child is distracted by various techniques and fully numbed at the same time.
The complete numbing effect takes a few minutes, but the effect is quicker in children.
The tooth is loosened and removed, and placed in a “Tooth Fairy Box” to take home.
Gauze and tissues are applied over the tooth socket to halt the bleeding.
You and your child are provided with home care directions and expectations for the next few days.