How are Teeth extracted?
Your child’s tooth may need to be removed in cases where it is: (1) severely broken down and cannot be adequately restored, (2) infected, or (3) impacted in the bone and negatively affecting adjacent teeth or structures.
Local Anesthesia
Dr. Perusini will inject local anesthetic (“freezing”) in or around the tooth or teeth to be removed. This blocks pain and minimizes discomfort.
Sedation
We endeavour to provide a positive experience for all children in our practice – even during dental extractions. One way to reduce anxiety heading into a stressful procedure is to utilize mild sedation. Nitrous oxide (also known as laughing gas) acts on the central nervous system causing euphoria while also reducing pain. Laughing gas is a mild sedative, which means your child will be awake and will still need to cooperate for the extraction. Learn more about nitrous oxide sedation here.
If you feel that nitrous oxide is not strong enough, we also provide care under general anesthesia. This may be a better option for removing teeth that are difficult to access, infected or for removing a large number of teeth all in one visit. Learn more about general anesthesia here.
Elevating & Delivering the Tooth
Dr. Perusini will first use instruments to elevate (or loosen) the tooth. Your child will not feel any pain, but they may feel pressure. When the tooth is sufficiently mobile, Dr. Perusini will use forceps to remove the tooth.
Cleaning & Sutures
After the tooth is extracted, Dr. Perusini and his assistant will clean the socket and rinse out any debris. Dr. Perusini may place dissolvable sutures (stitches) depending on the location or the number of teeth removed.
Healing & Aftercare
For quick and efficient healing, Dr. Perusini and his assistant will review a set of post-operative instructions following the surgery.
Depending on the nature of the extraction, Dr. Perusini may book your child back for a follow up visit. The front desk will help you arrange this appointment.
If you have any questions or concerns following the extraction, please contact our office and we will provide further instructions to aid your child’s recovery. You will often hear Dr. Perusini say, “there are no unreasonable questions – give us a shout!”
