What is Milk Tooth Extraction and When is it Necessary?
Primary teeth begin to erupt in children around the age of six
months, and they generally begin to fall out between the ages of
six and eight, giving way to permanent teeth by age 12. However,
in some cases, primary teeth may not fall out on their own, or
they may need to be extracted early for various reasons.
If the milk tooth has not fallen out even though the
permanent tooth has grown
If the decay of the milk tooth progresses and an infection
occurs at the root tip
If the tooth has lost its function after trauma
If the eruption time is delayed and the impacted permanent
teeth are blocking the way.
How is Milk Tooth Extraction Done?
Tooth extractions in children should always be performed under
local anesthesia and in a session when the child is
psychologically ready. To prevent dental fear, one or two
acclimation sessions can be planned before starting treatment.
There is no pain during the extraction of a primary tooth.
However, children can be particularly sensitive to the stinging
and numbness sensations. Therefore, it is important to provide
the child with accurate information before and after the
procedure.
Conditions That May Be Observed After Tooth Extraction
Mild pain or swelling
Bruising or discoloration of the gums
Light bleeding (especially in the first 24 hours)
Difficulty opening and closing the mouth
Numbness in the lip, tongue, or tip of the chin during the
local numbness period
Temporary eating and drinking disorders
Things to Consider After Milk Tooth Extraction
Food should not be given for the first 2 hours.
The child should not bite his cheek or lip until the
numbness passes.
The tooth cavity should not be manipulated with fingers,
tongue or sucking movements.
Very hot or cold foods should be avoided on the first day.
The saliva accumulated in the mouth should not be spit out,
but swallowed.
The gauze should be removed after 20 minutes and a new one
should not be placed afterwards.
If necessary, use painkillers and gargles recommended by the
doctor.
Medicines prescribed by the dentist must be applied
completely.
Why Are Placeholders Necessary?
If a primary tooth is extracted before its physiological
maturity, the eruption direction and space for the permanent
tooth may not be maintained. This can lead to crooked teeth,
narrow jaws, and orthodontic problems.
The most significant space loss occurs in the first six months
after extraction. Therefore, space maintainer application should
not be delayed, and dentist appointments should not be missed.
