Baby/Deciduous Tooth Extraction

A baby tooth extraction, or pediatric tooth extraction, is the surgical removal of a primary tooth. Tooth extraction is typically necessary after a child's tooth becomes damaged due to an injury, disease, or severe tooth decay. This is one of the most common pediatric dentistry procedures for children.

Primary front teeth extractions are simpler than primary molar extractions because they have a single root, rather than multiple roots. However, baby molars are the most common dental extractions because they are more prone to decay (cavities).

Common reasons for primary tooth extractions include:

Tooth Decay

Primary teeth easily fall victim to tooth decay, which typically results in extractions.

Cavities commonly form on a child’s molars because baby tooth enamel is very fragile. Also, children often do not follow complete dental health care practices, making their teeth more prone to decay.

Untreated decay in baby teeth can also lead to more serious oral health conditions and diseases. For example, when a baby tooth becomes infected, bacteria can spread to other teeth and may affect developing adult teeth.

If a primary tooth is extracted due to severe decay, adult teeth can also move into the open space at the extraction site, which leads to crooked or crowded teeth.

Trauma or Injury

A child’s primary teeth can become damaged from trauma or an injury, including accidents, falls, or failed dental restorations. If a baby tooth is chipped, cracked, or completely detached from the socket, pain and increased sensitivity are common symptoms.

Depending on the severity of the damage, paediatric pulp therapy (baby root canal) or a full-coverage crown may be able to save the tooth. Often times, the tooth has to be removed and replaced with a space maintainer until the adult tooth grows in.

Gum Disease

Gingivitis causes inflammation in the gingival tissues. It results in bleeding, redness, and swelling of the gum tissue.

If gingivitis is left untreated, paediatric periodontal disease (PD) can develop later on. PD is a serious oral condition that affects the gums and jawbone.

Severe cases can lead to loose teeth, receding gums, and severe bleeding. Tooth extractions are typically necessary if the teeth do not fall out on their own.

Orthodontic Treatment

Over-retained baby teeth refer to teeth that have loosened, but then tighten back into the gums, preventing the eruption of permanent teeth. Dentists typically recommend extracting these teeth to allow for the proper eruption of adult teeth.

If the primary teeth are not removed, dental crowding commonly develops, which is a condition that occurs when there is not enough space for teeth to grow in.

Adult teeth can also begin growing in above the over-retained primary teeth, which leads to misaligned teeth and the need for orthodontic treatment, such as braces, later on. The teeth most commonly removed for orthodontic reasons are the first premolars, which are located next to the canines.

It’s also important that your child loses all of these baby teeth by around 13 years old at the latest. If they go more than two years past this age without losing all of their initial teeth, damage could occur to the permanent teeth or these teeth could shift into odd placements. To identify when your child’s initial teeth should fall out, pay close attention to the following schedule:

• By ages 6-8, the upper and lower central primary incisors should fall out, Once these teeth have fallen out, the upper and lower lateral incisors are the next to fall out.
• By ages 8-10, there is typically a small break between when the remainder of these initial teeth fall out, usually stretching from 1-2 years before the process resumes.
• By ages 10-13, the lower canines and initial molars will fall out, Once the first molars have fallen out, the upper canines are the next to go, followed by the lower and upper molars.