Extraction of a Temporary Tooth

Temporary teeth typically remain in the child's dental arch until around the age of 6-7, at which point they begin to show increased mobility, easily fall out (or are extracted), and are replaced by permanent teeth.

There are situations, however, when baby teeth require special attention and need to be extracted by a pediatric dentist, allowing the permanent teeth to grow in properly.

When is tooth extraction advisable?

Tooth extraction is allowed in the following situations:

  • when the tooth is severely decayed and cannot be saved.
  • when the tooth is chipped or fractured due to trauma.
  • when the baby tooth has a strong root and does not fall out, even if it shows increased mobility, and the permanent teeth are starting to come in. In this situation, the child will have two rows of teeth, and the baby teeth must be removed.

However, it is essential to note that a baby tooth should not be extracted more than a year before the eruption of the permanent tooth. Otherwise, it may lead to the reduction of space by bringing the neighboring teeth closer, affecting the permanent dentition. The child may require orthodontic treatments later to realign the permanent teeth on the arch.

What does the process of tooth extraction for children involve?

The parent will bring the child to the pediatric dentist, and, at the dentist’s request, a dental X-ray will be taken to provide clear details about the roots of the baby teeth. Subsequently, depending on the strength of the roots, the child will be administered either topical anesthesia, with a quick and short-term effect, or traditional local anesthesia, and the extraction will be performed. After the procedure, the child should avoid consuming dairy products for a few days and stick to soft foods to prevent potential injuries at the extraction site.