Our Saginaw, MI, pediatric dentist understands that tooth extractions can be intimidating for both children and parents. Our gentle approach prioritizes your child’s comfort and well-being, ensuring a smooth and stress-free experience. Whether due to decay, overcrowding, or traumatic injury, we provide compassionate care during .
Here’s what you need to know about pediatric tooth extraction.
Why Your Child MayRequire Tooth Removal
Tooth extraction is sometimes necessary as a last resort to maintain the oral health of your child. Though our primary goal is to preserve natural teeth, certain conditions do necessitate removal. These include severe tooth decay that compromises the tooth’s structure, infections that cannot be treated with root canal therapy, and teeth that are significantly damaged due to trauma.
In such cases, extraction becomes crucial to prevent the spread of infection and protect the surrounding healthy teeth. Our Saginaw pediatric dental office specializes in examining and addressing these issues thoughtfully, allowing your child to remain comfortable and safe throughout the process.
General Aftercare to Follow
Our pediatric dentist will explain all aftercare instructions in detail with you but initially, we recommend having your child bite on a gauze pad to control bleeding and promote clot formation. It’s crucial to replace the gauze as directed until the bleeding stops. We advise against rinsing, sucking, or blowing actions for the first 24 hours to prevent further complications. Soft, cool foods like yogurt or applesauce are excellent during the first few days, gradually reintroducing normal foods as healing progresses.
Pain management is typically handled with over-the-counter pain relievers, and we may prescribe medication in some cases. Ice packs or heating pads applied to the cheek can also help reduce swelling and discomfort. In terms of oral hygiene, our dentist recommends that your child should be careful brushing and flossing around the extraction site.
Call to Make an Appointment Today
Ensuring your child's oral health in a comfortable, understanding environment is our top priority. If they’re faced with tooth damage, infection, or other issues that might require extraction, we're here to help. Call Great Lakes Bay Pediatric Dentistry today at (989) 792-9201 to request an appointment. Let us take care of your child's smile with the compassion and expertise every child deserves!