Discover the best time to extract a tooth for children and the appropriate age group!

Tooth Extraction for Children, Modern dentistry always seeks to find the best solutions and precautions for children’s teeth and molars, as they are exposed to tooth decay and cavities due to their frequent consumption of foods containing sugary substances, which may necessitate tooth extraction. Therefore, we will explain everything related to tooth extraction for children and its consequences.

Tooth Extraction for Children

Tooth Extraction for Children

One of the common mistakes is premature extraction of children’s teeth and molars, as parents believe that this will help the permanent teeth emerge faster. However, this can cause many consequences for the child. Therefore, the treating dentist postpones the extraction step and attempts to treat the tooth.

It is not necessary to extract a child’s tooth if there is no need for it. The dentist begins with the first step, which is treating the tooth and handling it as if it were permanent. If it requires a filling or other treatment, they will do so. To avoid subjecting the child to extraction, regular follow-up with the dentist every six months at least is necessary to prevent harm to the child’s primary teeth and molars.

Doctors warn against extracting primary molars at the age of five and six years to prevent the permanent teeth from emerging crooked, which would then require braces to straighten the teeth. Despite this, extraction is recommended if the tooth is severely decayed or has cavities and cannot be treated to prevent the spread of decay to surrounding teeth, as decay is a contagious disease.

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At What Age Should Children’s Teeth Be Extracted?

Although the extraction of primary teeth in children has many consequences, if they are extracted at an early age, it is necessary to extract them at the appropriate age to help the permanent teeth emerge. The appropriate age is:

• Starting from the age of 9 to 11 years, the first teeth in the upper and lower jaws are extracted or shed.
• Starting from the age of 10 to 12 years, the second teeth in the upper and lower jaws are extracted or shed.

What Should Be Done After Extracting a Child’s Tooth?

Some things that can be done after extracting a child’s tooth or molar to relieve pain and prevent gum inflammation are:

• Place a piece of cotton at the extraction site to stop bleeding and have the child bite on it for at least half an hour after the extraction, making sure to change the cotton with a clean piece when it becomes soaked with blood.
• Ensure that the child does not put their hand or tongue on the extracted tooth or socket for at least three days.
• After six hours from the extraction, have the child consume cold foods such as ice cream and cold drinks like juice to help stop the bleeding.
• Avoid heat, whether from hot foods or drinks or sunlight, for 12 hours after tooth extraction to prevent increased bleeding.
• Black tea has a significant role in stopping bleeding as it contains tannic acid. It can be placed on a piece of gauze at the extraction site.
• It is necessary to elevate the head with a pillow while sleeping to prevent the child from experiencing increased blood pressure or gum swelling.
• If bleeding persists for an extended period, consult the dentist immediately, keeping in mind that mixing blood with the child’s saliva may make the bleeding appear more severe.

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Is Tooth Extraction Safe for Children?

The shedding of children’s teeth, or what is called primary teeth, is one of the essential stages every child goes through, and the permanent teeth are underneath. However, early extraction is an unnatural problem resulting from tooth decay, calcium deficiency, or exposure to accidents. Extraction is completely unsafe and carries many problems, including:

• The permanent teeth may emerge crooked due to premature extraction of the primary teeth, leaving gaps in the gums. In this case, it is necessary to visit the dentist after early tooth extraction so they can place a space maintainer in the empty spaces to prevent the need for braces.
• Tooth crowding may occur when a child’s teeth are extracted at an early age. Therefore, dentists recommend treating tooth decay problems before parents resort to extraction.

Tooth extraction starting from the age of seven is considered natural and safe, as the primary teeth will be shed or extracted to allow the permanent teeth to emerge properly and regularly. It is essential to follow the appropriate medical instructions after extraction to enjoy healthy teeth. To learn more about extracting children’s teeth, read the following article.

Which Is Better for Children: Tooth Extraction or Root Canal Treatment?

Some may wonder whether tooth extraction or root canal treatment is better for a child. The answer is that root canal treatment is preferable in most cases, and the dentist determines the better method based on the child’s age and level of cooperation with the dentist. They usually attempt root canal treatment as it extends the tooth’s lifespan, especially if the child is at a young age for extraction. This is considered a temporary postponement of primary tooth extraction until it is more suitable for the child’s age.

Like everything else, root canal treatment has advantages and disadvantages, with a few potential complications that do not occur in all cases, such as:

• Swelling in the gum and below the tooth.
• Formation of a bacterial reservoir.
• The tooth’s color may change, and it becomes more susceptible to fracture.
• Development of an abscess, and the child may lose sensation in the tooth nerve.
• Weakening of the enamel layer, and over time, the tooth may fall out, but as mentioned, for children, this is a temporary postponement of premature extraction.

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Should an Inflamed Tooth Be Immediately Extracted from a 5-Year-Old Child?

In general, it is considered best to treat children’s teeth and molars before the age of 5 and 6 years and postpone the extraction step. Dentists recommend taking a panoramic X-ray, through which the dentist can determine whether the tooth can be preserved with a filling and then a crown, or if the condition of the tooth does not allow for treatment, and extraction is needed. However, this is done after treating the inflammation with antibiotics, after which the dentist will place a space maintainer in the gap left by the extracted tooth to prevent problems with the permanent teeth when they emerge.

If the dentist has to extract a 5-year-old child’s tooth, the mother should follow some instructions to maintain her child’s health:

• Do not allow the child to engage in sports or any strenuous activity for at least one day.
• Rinse the mouth with salt water to prevent exposing the extraction site to bacteria.
• The mother should maintain the child’s remaining teeth and molars to prevent decay and erosion, so no further extractions are needed at this age.

Will the Tooth Regrow After Extraction in Children?

Parents often worry about the delayed growth of their child’s tooth, but there is no need to worry if the extracted tooth is primary because primary teeth may take up to 6 months to regrow, and this time can vary slightly. There are some reasons for delayed growth, such as:

• Genetics: When the mother or father has a problem with delayed tooth growth, the child inherits this gene from the parents.
• Lack of sufficient space: If the primary tooth is smaller than the permanent one, it will need more time to emerge. It may require the dentist’s assistance in extracting the tooth using braces.
• Gender: Males may experience delayed tooth growth compared to females.
• Nutrition: Calcium deficiency in the child’s body can lead to delayed tooth growth.

If the extracted tooth is a permanent one, it will not regrow, and the mother must maintain her child’s remaining teeth and schedule dental visits to protect her child from tooth decay, gum diseases, and other conditions to prevent further tooth loss.

Complications of Tooth Extraction in Children

Extracting children’s teeth and molars is generally safe, especially when done by a dentist or when they fall out on their own. In these cases, there are no complications from the extraction. However, the child may experience a few complications, including:

• Remaining Tooth Fragments: These are pieces of bone that remain in the gum and are expelled during the healing process or removed by the dentist.

• Bleeding: It is natural for some bleeding to occur, and it can be stopped by applying pressure with a cotton piece. If bleeding continues for an extended period, place some tea on a piece of gauze and apply pressure to constrict the blood vessels.
• Infection: This does not happen often, but symptoms include redness in the face, fever, or a change in the smell of the mouth due to pus or discharge, in which case a visit to the dentist is necessary.
• Dry Socket: This is a protective layer that helps protect the nerves and tissues, formed by a blood clot at the extraction site. If it does not form or is removed before healing, a visit to the dentist is necessary to prevent tissue inflammation.

Complications of Tooth Extraction in Children

Cost of Tooth Extraction for Children

The cost of tooth extraction for children starts from 200 pounds and varies depending on several medical and social factors, such as:

• Type of tooth: When it is a primary tooth, the cost is lower than a permanent tooth.
• Oral health condition: If there is inflammation or infection, treatment and antibiotics will be required before extraction, increasing the cost.
• Location of the tooth: Extracting front teeth is typically less expensive than extracting back teeth.
• Cost of equipment: The specialized equipment in clinics increases the cost compared to public hospitals.