Early Extraction: Why Remove My Child’s Baby Tooth?

Did you know that the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends taking your child for their first dental visit by the time their first tooth grows in, which is usually around their first birthday? Routine visits help avoid issues, like cavities and gum disease, that can affect how their smile develops.

Under normal circumstances, you can count on your kid’s pediatric dentist to do everything they can to protect and preserve their teeth. However, there are some circumstances in which they must remove a problematic tooth, instead. Continue reading to learn 3 potential reasons your child might require an extraction!

Concern #1: Severe Tooth Decay

Brushing and flossing twice daily can help your little one avoid common dental concerns, like tooth decay, periodontal problems, and injuries, because it removes troublesome plaque and bacteria. But if they resist their dental hygiene routine or consumes lots of sugary food and drinks, they might develop cavities. If left untreated, they might become too severe for standard treatments, like tooth-colored fillings, to be effective.

In these cases, removing the tooth may be necessary to prevent caries from spreading to your child’s other teeth or affect their jawbone, which can also impact the adult teeth that have not arrived yet.

Concern #2: Issues from Overcrowding

Most children start losing their baby teeth when they’re about six or seven years old, which makes space for their adult ones to grow. Unfortunately, if your kid has a stubborn baby tooth that doesn’t want to come free, it might hinder the development of their permanent ones.

Not only that, but if an adult tooth erupts above or a primary one that hasn’t fallen out naturally, it can cause misalignments that require orthodontic treatments to address. Your child’s provider might suggest removing the tooth to prevent more serious concerns later on.  

Concern #3: Physical Trauma

Kids physically learn and explore their world through play, games, and other activities, and it’s not uncommon for them to trip or fall and hurt themselves. Sometimes this results in dental injuries, like chips, cracks, or breaks. Depending on the severity of their condition, sometimes pulp therapy and placing a dental crown can restore their tooth so they can continue using it normally.

But if the damage is overly severe, your pediatric dentist might recommend an extraction followed by placing a space maintainer to ensure there’s room for their permanent tooth to grow in.

If you’re still uncertain why your child’s dentist recommended this procedure, having an honest discussion with them can provide the answers you seek!

Meet the Author

Dr. Allen Pearson has 20+ years of experience helping children build and maintain the happiest, healthiest version of their smiles. He earned his dental degree from the Creighton University School of Dentistry and obtained his Pediatric Dental Specialty Certificate at the University of Rochester Medical Center and Eastman Dental College. Today, he offers a comprehensive menu of services, including extractions, to meet all your child’s needs conveniently under one roof. You can request an appointment on the website or call (972) 429-7070.