stock photo of young kids

There are times when it is necessary to remove a tooth. Sometimes a baby tooth does not fall out on its own so it must be removed to make way for the permanent tooth to erupt. At other times, a tooth may have so much decay that it is not restorable, so Dr. Clark may recommend removal and replacement with a space maintainer if it will benefit your child's growth and development. Infection, orthodontic correction (usually ordered by an orthodontist), or problems with a wisdom tooth can also require removal of a tooth.

Illustration of ExtractionsThe root of each tooth is encased within your child's jawbone in a "tooth socket," and their tooth is held in that socket by a ligament. In order to extract a tooth, Dr. Clark must expand the socket by pushing on the tooth and separate the tooth from the ligament holding it in place. While this procedure is typically very quick, it is important to share with Dr. Clark and her team any concerns or preferences for sedation for your child.

Once a tooth has been removed, neighboring teeth may shift causing problems with spacing and growth and development. To avoid these complications, Dr. Clark may recommend that your child has a space maintainer placed.

Back to the top

hit counter