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Why does my child need teeth extracted?

We understand that the idea of your child having a tooth extracted can be very stressful. As parents, your priority is to keep your child happy, healthy, and free from any unpleasantness.

Dr. Goel and the team at Queen Anne Dental always have your child’s best interest and comfort in mind during any treatment. Extractions can be difficult for anyone, and particularly for children who may not be able to understand what is happening to them.

You have our assurance that we will always use the most conservative approach when it comes to any dental treatment. If we recommend that your child have a tooth extracted, it means that it is the only option available to make sure that their oral health is protected.

It may be that your child has a baby tooth that is preventing the permanent tooth from erupting properly. It is far easier for us to remove the baby tooth now, so that we can avoid having to deal with misaligned teeth later.

At Queen Anne Dental, we value the trust you place in us for your child’s oral health care. We will always discuss all alternatives with you so that you understand exactly why we recommend certain procedures.

Why do I need to have my tooth extracted?

At Queen Anne Dental, our highest priority is to make sure that all your teeth stay whole and healthy so that they provide you with a lifetime of use. But circumstances do occur that make extraction of a tooth necessary.

You may be surprised at the number of reasons why tooth extraction may be necessary:

  • Advanced decay that has caused so much damage that the tooth can’t be repaired
  • Severe periodontal infection that cannot be eliminated with root canal therapy
  • Impacted wisdom teeth or wisdom teeth that compromise the alignment of neighboring teeth
  • Preparation for placement of full or partial dentures
  • Teeth that have grown in at odd angles, affecting the alignment of surrounding teeth
  • Dental trauma that has broken or severely damaged teeth beyond repair
  • Preparation for orthodontic treatment for children

Dr. Goel chooses the most conservative treatments available for protecting and restoring your family’s oral health. If tooth extraction does become necessary, you can be sure that you are in good hands with the team at our Queen Anne dental office.

We understand how challenging tooth extraction can be for anyone. Our kind, caring team and gentle sedation options will make your procedure as comfortable and stress-free as possible. Please contact us for more information or to make a convenient appointment.

How long will it take to recover from oral surgery?

The length of recovery from oral surgery depends on the type of extraction you had – simple or surgical extraction, as in the case of removing an impacted tooth. There are also health factors that come into play and whether or not you smoke. Smoking can inhibit healing after oral surgery, and is not recommended.

After a simple extraction at Queen Anne Dental, you can expect some discomfort and swelling for about 24 to 48 hours. If you have a surgical extraction, this swelling and discomfort can last for three days. Full healing may take several weeks.

We will provide you with medication and explain the steps you can take after surgery to make reduce discomfort and swelling. Taking your medication and following these after-care instructions carefully will promote faster healing and prevent complications.

Dr. Goel can give you more specific information regarding healing time once we perform a full evaluation of the teeth that need to be extracted. We also offer solutions for tooth replacement after extraction and he can discuss these options with you as well.

Our goal is to protect your oral health in a comfortable, stress-free setting. We understand your apprehension about tooth extraction, and will do everything to make it as easy as possible for you

Tooth extraction scares me! How can you help?

We understand your worries, and we want to do anything we can to help you get through the process with as little stress and anxiety as possible. Our sedation options are the answer for getting you the help you need in a calming environment.

At Queen Anne Dental, we work hard to preserve your teeth whenever possible. But sometimes it becomes necessary to extract a tooth to protect your overall health. We have done many tooth extractions, and we work together as a team to make sure you are completely comfortable throughout the procedure.

We can assure you that both of our doctors are very gentle, but we know that this may not be enough to help you relax before and during treatment. Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) is a simple, but very effective type of sedation that helps keep you calm with no side effects afterwards. You will feel relaxed during the treatment and it controls any anxiety you may have.

Oral sedation is also very effective if you have more serious dental anxiety. We can prescribe a relaxing medication to be taken at our office. Combined with nitrous oxide, this type of sedation is sufficient to help even the most fearful patients.

 Please contact our Queen Anne dental office for more information about the ways in which we can help you deal with your fears.

Do you take same-day emergency patients?

We are pleased to provide same-day emergency treatment to help you find relief and get the immediate treatment necessary to protect your oral health.

Sudden, severe pain is often a sign of a serious problem, and we are available to help you so that you never have to put off the important treatment you need because you can’t find proper dental care.

Since you may not be sure if your problem is an actual dental emergency, here is a general list of problems you may be experiencing that qualify as a dental emergency. In any event, do not hesitate to contact us if you are experiencing pain or discomfort.

  • An accident or damage to your tooth that has caused it to break or fracture
  • An unexplained bump or pimple on your gums
  • Sudden severe tooth pain or swelling
  • A toothache that is severe enough to cause radiating facial pain
  • Sports injury or trauma caused by an accident
  • Loss of a filling, dental crown, veneer, or other type of restoration

Depending on the emergency, prompt treatment can prevent further damage, and may mean the difference between saving or losing a tooth. If you have a dental emergency, please contact our office immediately. We know how painful and overwhelming a dental emergency can be, and we will make arrangements to see you that day.