Dental Extractions

Baby teeth are constantly growing and shifting inside of your child’s mouth, but sometimes they require dental extractions to make room for permanent teeth. Josh Morales, DDS, and the Mor Smiles 4 Kids team help prepare your child for their permanent set of teeth and help prevent unwanted damage, pain, and infection. Call the Montgomery, Texas, office today to schedule an appointment or book online through the reservation portal.

What are dental extractions?

 A dental extraction is a surgical removal of a tooth from your child’s mouth. In most cases this is a quick and simple procedure for Dr. Morales. In child and infant dentistry, this helps make room for new, developing teeth and serves as a preventative dentistry tool to stave off overcrowding. Dental extractions also help remove your teen’s wisdom teeth which may cause pain and discomfort.

What are the types of dental extractions?

Dr. Morales can perform the two main types of dental extractions, called simple or surgical extractions. Simple extractions require only simple instruments and can remove a tooth that is visible to the doctor. 

A surgical extraction is slightly more invasive and is necessary for a tooth that’s not visible and resting under the gum line. Wisdom and impacted teeth are common examples of teeth that require surgical extraction. Dr. Morales may choose to refer your child to an oral maxillofacial surgeon for complicated surgical extractions.

Are dental extractions only for temporary teeth?

Dental extractions may be essential if your child’s baby teeth haven’t fallen out by a certain age. However, dental extractions can also be used on permanent teeth to preserve your child’s oral health and development. To prevent unwanted complications, you should seek dental care if your child or teen has damaged, decaying, or infected teeth.

Proper oral hygiene can help reduce the need for a dental extraction, but not always. Additionally, if your child requires orthodontic care, the expert may recommend an extraction to create more space for tooth shifting and maneuverability. 

What can my child and I expect during a dental extraction?

Before the extraction process, Dr. Morales will apply a local anesthetic to the treatment area to numb it and prevent painful sensations. You may also opt for sedation dentistry if your child experiences dental anxiety.

Once Dr. Morales successfully numbs the area and makes sure your child feels comfortable, he will gently loosen the tooth with specialized instruments and remove it from the socket. After the procedure, your child should rest for several hours and stick to soft foods for an entire day.

The Mor Smiles 4 Kids experts will supply additional aftercare instructions that your child should follow to reduce complications. For example, Dr. Morales may advise not sucking through straws, which could create a problem called a dry socket. 

To learn if your child may need a dental extraction, call the Montgomery, Texas, office to schedule an appointment with Dr. Morales or book through the online reservation portal.