Does your child need a tooth extraction?

Tooth extraction can be frightening and scary for kids as they are unsure what to expect. But when your child needs it, you have no other alternative but to prepare them as the procedure will save them a lot of pain later. The dental team at Kidz Connextion has experience when it comes to dental issues affecting kids. If your child needs a tooth extraction, you can visit any of our locations in Phoenix, AZ. Here is a guide to help you when your kid needs a tooth extraction.

Losing Their First Tooth

Children often lose their first teeth at about age 6. The adult teeth will start growing and push the baby teeth out. This is a natural process that needs no tooth extraction procedure. But when this process does not happen naturally, your child may need a tooth extraction. Since adult teeth are permanent, they need to come out without any issues. When the baby teeth hinder this process, they lead to other problems in the mouth. For instance, if a baby tooth is not coming out, it can lead to overcrowding of the teeth as there isn’t enough space in the mouth to accommodate both baby and adult teeth.

Extraction Because the Teeth Are Infected or Damaged

Another situation where your child may need a tooth extraction is when one or multiple teeth have been damaged beyond repair. This can happen after a sports injury, car accident, gum or bone infection, or a cavity that is too extensive to repair.

What Does a Child Extraction Procedure Look Like?

Each case will be different depending on the kind of treatment your child needs. For instance, if the tooth to be extracted is easy to remove, then this is a simple extraction. The doctor will numb the area and gently extract the affected tooth with forceps.

If the tooth is significantly affected, the dentist may have to remove it in pieces. This is a more complex procedure, and the dentist will sedate your child via an IV or use laughing gas.

Before the procedure, talk to your child in an assuring way to prepare them. You can also talk to your dentist about how to best prepare your child for the procedure. After the extraction, our dentist will advise you on how to care for your child, depending on the treatment they just underwent.

If you feel that your child needs a tooth extraction, schedule an appointment with Kidz Connextion at 623-232-0749. You can find our team of dentists on 24th Street, 75th Street, and Baseline Road in Phoenix, AZ, ready to attend to your kid.

Sealants Protect Your Smile

You may not have realized that sealants protect your smile, but they really do. It is hard to smile if your teeth are not in good condition and the care of your teeth begins when you are young. At Kidz Connextion your experienced dentist can explain the benefits of sealants. With multiple locations and flexible hours, it is easy to find the time and place to fit getting sealants for your child into your busy schedule.

Sealants are one of the many weapons your dentist has in their fight against tooth decay. It starts with young children and can even be used on adults to help prevent cavities. When dental sealants are placed on molars, they are effective in preventing cavities 80% of the time for the first two years and 50% for years three and four.

The evidence is pretty compelling that this is something that both you and your kids should consider getting. 

What are dental sealants?

As parents, it is natural to wonder if dental sealants are safe for their children. Sealants are made from plastic or resin and both the ADA (American Dental Association) and the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) have agreed that dental sealants are safe for both children and adults.

The sealant is painted onto the chewing surface of the molars, and it fills in the uneven surface of the teeth so that food and bacteria can't make a home there. Sealants are not supposed to take the place of good dental hygiene, you still need to brush and floss, but this can help to protect those particular teeth which do so much work when you chew.

How long do dental sealants last?

Of course, with baby teeth, the sealant often lasts until the tooth falls out. But in adult teeth, research has shown that the protection can last for up to nine years. Though it is never a good idea to just assume it is still in place, you need to have regular dental visits to check what condition the protection is in.

Kidz Connextion can make sure that you have sealants to protect your smile. Contact our offices at N. 75th Ave. by text at 623-232-0749, at N. 24th St by text at 480-666-5984, and at E. Baseline Rd by text at 480-405-4714 to make an appointment.