Getting teeth pulled is a fear that adults and children alike have. Going to the dentist for surgery can be really scary for children. There are some things that you can do to help prep your child for a tooth extraction that may put them more at ease. Working with a pediatric dentist that has experience working with children and knows about their behavior can also help the experience go smoothly. 

Granger Pediatric Dentistry understands the fear that surrounds tooth extraction. We will do our best to take care of them and make them feel as comfortable as possible.

Here are some things you can talk to your child about before the procedure to help them relax. 

What Is Tooth Extraction?

Your child may not want to know what is going to happen with the tooth extraction, but you should. If your child does have questions or concerns, knowing about the procedure can help you explain it to them clearly and accurately. 

A tooth extraction is just that simple, removing the tooth from the mouth. There are a few reasons that your child could need an extraction, such as their mouth is too crowded and new teeth can not grow in or it will cause more problems if their mouth is too crowded.

Another reason is the tooth is infected and is causing pain. If the tooth is a baby tooth or is too far gone to benefit from a filling, the dentist may feel that it is best to remove it. 

Another common reason is that your child’s baby teeth are ready to come out but are not falling out on their own. If their adult teeth are ready to come in, a pediatric dentist can help remove the baby teeth to make room for the permanent teeth. 

Sedation And Anesthesia

Going under anesthesia or sedation can be unfamiliar to your child, talking them through what going under means and how they may feel can put them more at ease. At Granger, We offer 4 types of sedation dentistry: nitrous oxide (laughing gas), conscious oral sedation, in-office IV sedation and general anesthesia at Family Surgical Suite or Primary Children’s Medical Center. 

Laughing gas is used to help patients relax and just take deep breaths through a small mask over their nose. Oral sedation is administered in the dental office and is given to your child in the form of a liquid.

After we give the child the medicine, you and your child can sit in a private room with a TV. The medicine takes about 45-60 minutes to take effect, and when they are sleepy, we bring them back to the treatment room.

IV Sedation also happens in our office and a CRNA can start an IV on your child or give them a small injection. Once the sedative is given, our CRNA can give additional sedation medicines to help keep your child relaxed. The amount of sedation given to your child depends on their weight and the CRNA will monitor the dosage that helps to keep your child asleep during the procedure.

General anesthesia is performed at either Family Surgical Suite or Primary Children’s Hospital. We feel that children are diverse and have a range of fears and medical history, this is why we provide so many options for your child and their procedure.

Visit The Dentist Beforehand

Even if your child has visited this dentist before, it can be a good idea to chat with the dentist in a non-threatening scenario about the procedure. You or your child may ask the dentist questions about the tooth extraction and they can walk you through anything that may be concerning. 

This gives the dentist a chance to see how nervous your child may be before the day of the tooth extraction as well. Giving your dentist a heads up can help them know to be a bit more patient with your child or understand what fears may be triggering for them. 

Focus On The Positives

You may not think that there are a lot of positives to tooth extraction, but helping your child to see the benefits can help them understand why the procedure is necessary. Talk to your child about how this will help their mouth to feel better or help keep them healthy.

You could also talk about the tooth fairy visiting and bringing your child a special treat for having the tooth pulled. Whatever you think will help get your child to look at the experience more positively can help keep them more at ease. 

Give Them Something To Look Forward To

Having something to look forward to after a hard situation can put many of us at ease. You may choose to bring your child’s favorite toy or stuffed animal for them to have after the tooth extraction is over. 

Keeping their favorite, soft food at home ready for them, or taking them out for a treat a few days after the extraction can help them look forward to the reward and make it through the extraction. Keeping their sight on something bigger past the procedure, can help them to see that they will be ok through it. 

Working With Granger Pediatric

Our team has 5 dentists to best serve your child. We strive to combine a calm but fun atmosphere in our office. We promise outstanding care for you and your children. We now have new offices and have a virtual tour located on our website. Your child can see our office and get a feel for our atmosphere before you even step in the building. 

We also offer our cavity free club, which rewards children for being cavity free at their 6 month checkups. Thanks to local businesses, we have provided a wooden nickel that can be redeemed at business for a free treat. Contact us today to set up an appointment or ask us any questions about your child’s care.