CHILDREN’S TOOTH EXTRACTIONS BAKERSFIELD
Saying Bye-Bye to Problem Teeth
Natural teeth should be preserved as long as possible, as they deliver a level of stability, function, and aesthetic that no other artificial replacement can. However, when excessive damage or significant decay leaves your child dealing with a tooth that is putting their oral health at risk, our dentists at Purdy Pediatric Dentistry may be required to perform tooth extractions. This might be unnerving as a parent, but you can trust that we will go over all the details with you and your child before starting treatment, making sure you understand the necessity for care and how it will benefit their smile. Contact our office if you would like to learn more about children's tooth extractions in Bakersfield.
Why Choose Purdy Pediatric Dentistry for Children’s Tooth Extractions?
- Same-Day Dental Emergency Appointments Available
- Nitrous Oxide & Oral Conscious Dental Sedation Offered
- Treatment Plans Created by Experienced Pediatric Dentists
When Are Children's Tooth Extractions Necessary?
After examining your child’s mouth, we will determine if the affected tooth or teeth need to be extracted. The following are a few reasons we might suggest this type of procedure:
- They have a baby tooth that refuses to fall out on its own, but the permanent tooth is trying to erupt.
- They need orthodontic treatment but do not have enough room to undergo treatment because of overcrowding.
- They have one or more damaged teeth that cannot be saved with restorative care.
- They have a severely decayed tooth that cannot be fixed with a dental filling, dental crown, or pulp treatment.
The Tooth Extraction Process
The tooth extraction process requires local anesthesia and sedation dentistry (should your child need it). We’ll numb the tooth and surrounding area before using specialized extraction instruments to remove the tooth from its socket. A dental elevator will help lift the tooth so that dental forceps can be used to grab hold and gently rock the tooth back and forth. This will continue until it fully detaches from underlying ligaments.
Once the removal is complete, your child will need to bite down on clean gauze to help stop the bleeding and encourage blood clot formation.
Understanding the Cost of Children’s Tooth Extractions
Whether your child has a painful toothache, a baby tooth that won’t fall out without help, or needs to make room in their arch for orthodontic treatment, a children’s tooth extraction from Purdy Pediatric Dentistry will gently and carefully remove the tooth or teeth and bring back their healthy, pain free smile. However, until their dentist has had the opportunity to examine their gorgeous grin in person, it is difficult to give even a ballpark estimate for the price of this treatment. That’s because there are many important factors that can affect the cost of a tooth extraction in Bakersfield, each of which are individual to your child. To learn more about this treatment, including your total estimated price, schedule a consultation with us today. In the meantime, feel free to take a closer look at how we’ll determine the cost once your child’s smile has been evaluated.
Factors That Can Affect Your Child’s Tooth Extraction Cost
Because each situation is as unique as your child, it’s impossible to determine the exact cost of an extraction in Bakersfield until one of our caring pediatric dentists has had the pleasure of examining their teeth. That’s because there are several unique factors that can affect the total, including:
- Where in the mouth the tooth is located and which type of tooth it is, as well as how many teeth need to be extracted.
- How hard it will be for your child’s dentist to access the tooth, and whether we’ll need to bring in a local specialist to assist with the procedure.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Children’s Tooth Extractions?
In many cases, dental insurance will cover approximately 50% of the cost of a children’s tooth extraction in Bakersfield after you have met your deductible. However, please note that you may be subject to limits on how many teeth can be removed, or a waiting period before your coverage becomes fully active. Because each plan is as unique as your child’s smile, it is extremely important to confirm your coverage prior to their tooth extraction procedure. Our friendly dental insurance team is happy to assist you with this step as well!
Other Options for Making Children’s Tooth Extractions Affordable
In addition to welcoming a variety of private dental insurance plans and Denti-Cal, Purdy Pediatric Dentistry is pleased to offer the Purdy Dental Membership Plan. This program is ideal for patients who don’t have private dental insurance, and for a low annual fee includes routine dental care as well as discounts on additional oral health treatments like tooth extractions. Please visit our website for more information or contact our front office for details.
At Purdy Pediatric Dentistry, we’re here to restore your child’s healthy, pain-free smile and are standing by to assist with their tooth extraction procedure, including helping you better understand the costs involved. To get started, contact us today!
Tooth Extractions FAQs
Do tooth extractions hurt?
Many parents and their children wonder whether the process of removing a tooth is painful. Rest assured, our compassionate providers understand that your family might be a little nervous about this procedure and will do everything we can to help your kid feel calm and comfortable the entire time.
For example, in addition to numbing the area with a local anesthetic to prevent pain, we also offer three options for dental sedation: oral conscious medication, nitrous oxide (laughing gas), and general anesthesia. That way, if your child can’t undergo one of the options for whatever reason, they might still benefit from another.
Is there an alternative to having a troublesome tooth extracted?
It’s natural to question whether removing your child’s tooth is truly necessary or whether their injured tooth might be treated instead. For example, sometimes toothaches or infections can be mended with a root canal followed by placing a dental crown.
But extraction is usually only recommended as a last resort, so if our team has suggested this service, we have likely already determined that no other options can sufficiently repair the damage or protect their dental health.
How can I help prepare my child for their procedure?
Helping establish expectations can go a long way towards helping your kid get through their procedure successfully, and there are a few ways you can help them prepare, including:
- Being well-informed can help soothe frayed nerves and remove the fear of the unknown, so please feel free to ask our team any questions you or your child have regarding their procedure and recovery.
- Follow any provided instructions, such as skipping breakfast if your child is sedated for their procedure.
- If you have a teen who’s old enough to drive, they will likely need a ride to their appointment and home again afterward, especially if they will be medicated for the treatment.
What’s recovery like after a tooth extraction?
Our team will provide a comprehensive list of post-op instructions intended to help your child mend as efficiently as possible while avoiding potential complications. For instance, it’s essential that their mouth forms a blood clot at the site to prevent a potentially painful side effect known as dry socket. Several instructions are intended to help protect and preserve this clot, and can include:
- Taking any prescribed antibiotics or pain medications exactly as directed.
- Getting plenty of rest and avoiding activities that elevate heart rate or blood pressure.
- Drinking lots of water, but avoid using straws, because the force of suction can dislodge the clot.
- Sticking to softer, blander foods that won’t cause additional irritation, such as mashed potatoes, yogurt, ice cream, scrambled eggs, or applesauce.
- Keep their mouth clean by rinsing with water for the first day, then resume brushing and flossing as they feel comfortable.
- Managing discomfort with ice packs, salt water rinses, or over-the-counter medications, such as children’s acetaminophen or children’s ibuprofen.