Tooth Extractions – San Ramon, CA
Removing Pearly Whites to Protect Oral Health
Helping your child maintain a beautiful smile not only helps boost their self-confidence but can also improve their chances of having greater oral health in the long run. While our goal is to preserve their natural teeth for as long as possible, sometimes a smile can become greatly affected by decay or severe damage. If your teen or child’s tooth shows indications that it can turn problematic for the rest of their smile, then our team might recommend tooth extractions to save the other pearly whites. Read on to learn more about this treatment or give us a call to schedule their consultation.
Why Choose Gale Ranch Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics of San Ramon for Tooth Extractions?
- Sedation Dentistry Available for Optimal Comfort
- Professional, Reliable, & Compassionate Dental Team
- Dental Insurance & Financing Welcome
Reasons Why Tooth Extractions Are Necessary
![an extracted tooth on a table with dental tools](assets/images/extractions-1.jpg)
It’s important to note that our team at Gale Ranch Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics will do everything we can to preserve your child’s natural adult teeth for as long as possible. During their consultation, we will evaluate their oral health and assess their affected tooth to see if it can lead to more serious issues in the future, such as an oral infection. Here are some of the reasons our team would recommend extracting your child’s tooth for the safety of the rest of their smile:
- Their tooth is significantly damaged and cannot be salvaged with a root canal or dental crown.
- They have severe decay that can potentially spread to other teeth.
- They have a baby tooth that isn’t falling out by itself and is in the way of the permanent one underneath.
- They need to undergo orthodontic treatment and require space in their smile due to overcrowded teeth.
The Process of Removing a Tooth
![a teen patient undergoing the tooth extraction process](assets/images/extractions-2.jpg)
Our team will thoroughly evaluate your teen or child’s smile to determine the proper kind of tooth extraction procedure needed. Should they have a partially erupted tooth, we might be able to remove it without the need for scalpels. Regardless, we will first numb your child’s mouth completely with a local anesthetic so that their treatment process is painless. We could even offer sedation options to further minimize discomfort as well as keep them relaxed.
Once we know your child is comfortable, we can begin using our dental instruments to elevate the tooth from the socket while carefully shifting it back and forth until it comes out. If this isn’t possible or their tooth is impacted, we can instead use special tools to open the gum tissue to access the tooth under the gum line. If necessary, we may have to strategically divide the tooth into pieces to remove them safely.
Tooth Extraction Aftercare
![a teen girl smiling after undergoing dental treatment](assets/images/extractions-3.jpg)
After your child goes back home to heal, you’ll want to encourage them to follow our specific aftercare guidelines for proper recovery. These should include:
- Get plenty of rest and keep their head elevated to avoid blood going to their head
- Minimize bleeding with clean gauze
- Refrain from sucking, spitting, or using a straw to avoid disturbing the blood clot around the surgical site
- Eat soft foods for a few days, like mashed potatoes and soup, to avoid chewing or biting down
- Take over-the-counter/prescribed pain relievers to reduce discomfort while using a cold compress to alleviate swelling