Tooth Extractions – Homewood, AL

A Safe & Gentle Way to Remove Hurting Teeth

For children, a natural part of growing up is losing all of their primary teeth. However, no one ever really expects a child to have their primary removed by a dentist. In cases of severe damage or infection, that’s often the best course of action to preserve the health of your little one’s smile. At Angelica Rohner Pediatric Dentistry, our dentists will do everything possible to salvage your child’s natural tooth. But if a tooth extraction in Homewood is the best solution, they’ll make sure the process is safe, comfortable, and nothing to be afraid of! If you’d like to learn more about tooth extractions, continue reading or make an appointment with Dr. Rohner today!

Reasons Why Tooth Extractions Are Necessary

First and foremost, it’s important to understand why tooth extractions in Homewood are necessary. It’s always preferable to keep as much of the natural tooth structure as possible, but there are some cases where its removal is ideal. Dr. Rohner may recommend that your child get a tooth extraction for many reasons, including:

• A tooth that’s severely damaged or decayed to the point no other treatment can restore it
• Required to help orthodontic treatment and maintain the results
• Their baby tooth won’t fall out on its own
• Prevent infections and other oral health problems from spreading to other parts of the body

The Process of Removing a Tooth

Hearing your dentist say that your child needs a tooth pulled can be anxiety-inducing. But rest assured – the process is very straightforward and much less involved than a standard tooth extraction in adults!

A simple extraction usually only requires a local anesthetic. Dr. Rohner will elevate the tooth out of its socket, then use forceps to grasp it and gently wiggle it out of place, separating it from any connective tissues that are attached to the jawbone.

On the other hand, a more complex extraction may require the removal of gum tissue near the tooth to make the process easier. For this type of procedure, your child may need sedation dentistry. It’s a safe and extremely common option that’ll relax them during extensive dental procedures.

After the extraction, Dr. Rohner will discuss your next steps. If a baby tooth was removed, she may recommend that your child get a prosthetic tooth to ensure the permanent one comes in correctly. However, if the permanent tooth is not far off from coming in, a prosthetic tooth will not be needed.

Tooth Extraction Aftercare

Following an extraction, it’s completely normal to have a bit of bleeding from the site. Make sure you remind your child (and yourself!) that it’s nothing to be concerned about! Dr. Rohner will apply sterile gauze to the affected area after the tooth is removed to manage the bleeding. In some cases, a few stitches may be needed to help the extraction site heal. It’s incredibly important to leave the forming blood clot untouched to avoid dry socket, which is a painful condition.

Here are some tooth extraction aftercare tips to keep in mind:

• Don’t allow your child to rinse their mouth for the first 24 hours. Afterward, encourage them to rinse with warm salt water two to three times a day to keep their mouth clean.
• Give your child prescribed or over-the-counter pain medication as directed to alleviate discomfort.
• Have your child ice the outside of their jaw to reduce swelling and inflammation.
• Make sure your child sticks to a soft-food diet for at least a week.
• Encourage your little one to drink plenty of water.