Extractions in Providence, Las Vegas

What is a tooth extraction?

A tooth extraction is the removal of one of your child’s baby teeth. This procedure is typically recommended after a child's tooth becomes damaged due to an injury or severe tooth decay. If your child is set to undergo orthodontic treatment or has incoming adult teeth that need room to erupt, a tooth extraction may be the right treatment for their smile. Schedule an appointment today at Desert Kids Dental in Las Vegas.

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Did you know…

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Over half of tooth extractions for children ages 3 to 13 are due to cavities.

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How it works: The tooth extraction process

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Clean & Sanitize

To begin, your Las Vegas pediatric dentist will clean and disinfect the treatment site in preparation for the extraction procedure.

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Local Anesthesia

To perform a simple extraction, your dentist will use local anesthesia to numb the area and the surrounding nerves. This will ensure that your child feels no pain or discomfort during the procedure.

Sedation Options

If your child is nervous for their treatment, sedation can make the appointment easier. This will keep your child comfortable, relaxed, and anxiety-free during their procedure.

Loosening & Removing The Tooth

Your dentist will gently loosen the tooth in the socket using special dental tools. When it has been loosened sufficiently, they will pull it out with a pair of dental forceps.

Cleaning & Necessary Sutures

When the tooth has been removed, your dentist will clean and disinfect the area again. If there are any problems with the socket, then a suture will be placed.

Healing & Aftercare

After the procedure is complete, your dentist will provide you with a comprehensive set of instructions that will ensure your child’s mouth heals as quickly as possible.

Common reasons for tooth extractions

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Tooth Decay

Cavities commonly form on a child’s molars because baby tooth enamel is very fragile. Children often have trouble following complete dental health care practices, making their teeth more prone to decay. If your child’s tooth decay is so severe that no restoration can salvage the tooth, an extraction may be necessary.

Trauma or Injury

If your child experiences dental trauma from an accident, fall, or sports injury, the tooth may need to be removed. A chipped or cracked baby tooth can cause pain and increased sensitivity in your child’s mouth, so don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment to address the situation.

Allow Adult Teeth to Erupt

Sometimes, baby teeth loosen and then tighten back into the gums. This is referred to as over-retained baby teeth, which prevents permanent teeth from erupting properly. Your dentist may recommend extracting these teeth to allow adult teeth to develop without any crowding.

Prepare for Orthodontic Treatment

If your child is planning to have an orthodontic procedure, an extraction may be necessary to reduce the chance of crowding. This also allows the orthodontist to straighten adjacent teeth.

Did you know…

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An extraction may be necessary for orthodontic reasons like overcrowding.

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Have questions about your child’s tooth extraction?
Find answers here.

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Will my child be in pain after the extraction?

After the extraction procedure, your child may experience some minor swelling and discomfort for a few days. By applying cold compresses to the face for 20 minutes at a time, swelling and pain symptoms will subside. If your child continues to have severe reactions or symptoms, do not hesitate to call our office immediately.

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What care should I provide my child after the extraction?

It’s perfectly normal for a little bleeding to occur after an extraction. The gums will soon form a blood clot within the socket and begin the natural healing process. It is very important to keep the protective clot securely in place. This will prevent a painful “dry socket” condition from forming, which occurs when the clot is dislodged and the underlying bone is exposed.

To protect the clot, avoid cleaning the area for the first 24 hours. Then rinse with salt water to sanitize the site and reduce pain. Tylenol, ibuprofen, and ice packs on the outside of the jaw can alleviate any pain and swelling. If your child experiences excessive swelling, shows signs of an infection, or gets a fever, contact your dentist right away.

Make sure your child avoids hard crunchy foods for at least a week and opts for softer foods instead after the extraction. This will ensure the protective clot stays intact and bacteria-free. In addition, encourage your childYou won’t feel any pain or discomfort during or immediately after your extraction due to the numbing and sedation used during the procedure. However, you will start to experience symptoms including pain, discomfort, swelling, bruising, and bleeding within a few hours following your extraction. These symptoms usually peak within the first 2-3 days, and then start to fade as you heal. You will typically need to eat a diet of mostly soft foods for about 5-7 days after your treatment, so plan accordingly. 

Overall, it will take about 1-2 weeks for your extraction site to heal completely. Following the recovery instructions provided to you by your dentist will enhance your healing progress. If you are still feeling a lot of pain and discomfort 1-2 weeks after your extraction, this is not normal. Contact your dentist for a follow-up appointment. to drink plenty of water to keep their mouth as clean as possible.

Are extractions covered by insurance?

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Usually. Tooth extractions that are required to remove impacted wisdom teeth, or damaged or decayed teeth, are typically covered by insurance. However, we recommend that you contact your insurance provider and work with them to fully understand your coverage and benefits.

Signs That Your Child Needs An Extraction

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There are a few different signs that your child may need a tooth extraction in Las Vegas. First, if they have a very severe cavity and are complaining of a toothache, this may indicate that they have an infected tooth. 

Infected teeth are a serious oral health issue. They can sometimes be treated with a pulpotomy or a root canal at Desert Kids Dental, but this may not be the case if the tooth has suffered extensive damage. In some cases, the best option may be to extract the tooth. This will prevent the infection from spreading any further, and will also provide your child with relief from their pain and discomfort.

A tooth that’s been severely damaged by dental trauma may also require extraction. Major breaks, cracks, or chips to the tooth may leave it too weak or vulnerable to be repaired with a dental crown or other dental treatments. If your child has suffered a serious injury to a tooth, it may need to be extracted.

The improper growth of wisdom teeth is another common reason that older teens (usually around 16-17) may need an extraction. The wisdom teeth are the final set of four molars. They erupt a lot later than the other teeth, which are all in place by the age of 13.

Because of this, the wisdom teeth can grow into the mouth improperly. If this happens, your child may experience signs and symptoms like pain in the rear of their mouth, gum inflammation, bleeding when brushing their back teeth, and stiffness or pain in their jaws. These symptoms indicate that an extraction may be required.

However, extractions are not always the only option, even for the above treatments. The best way to tell whether or not your child needs a tooth extraction is to schedule a consultation with a dentist like Dr. Sandra Thompson at Desert Kids Dental. Extractions are a last resort at our office, and we’ll always explore the options your child has for saving their tooth.

The Tooth Extraction Process

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To begin the tooth extraction process, Dr. Sandra Thompson will clean and numb your child’s mouth. We also offer sedation dentistry, which will help keep your child calm throughout the extraction process.

Once your child’s mouth is numb and they’re fully sedated, Dr. Thompson will begin loosening their tooth using special dental instruments. These are used to loosen the “periodontal ligament” that holds the tooth in place.

After the tooth has been sufficiently loosened, Dr. Thompson will grasp it using dental forceps, and pull it out of the socket. Then, she will clean and disinfect the treatment site, then suture the gum tissue shut to encourage proper healing. Then, you and your child will be sent home with instructions on how to care for their teeth as they recover.

How Do I Care For My Child’s Teeth After An Extraction?

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You and your child will need to take a few steps to ensure they recover properly. First, they will need to eat a diet of soft foods for up to a week to avoid damaging the extraction site. They also should not brush the extraction site for at least 2-3 days, and must avoid spitting forcefully or using a straw. This ensures the blood clot forming in the empty socket is not disturbed. If it is disturbed, a painful condition called “dry socket” may occur.

Your child should also avoid heavy exercise for a few days, and take steps to deal with pain, swelling, inflammation, and bruising near the extraction site. Dr. Thompson will provide you with a full set of instructions that you’ll need to follow to care for your child after their extraction.

Did you know…

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Most patients can return to school within 2-3 days days following an extraction.

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