Extractions

April 28th, 2009 by Mark Mutschler

Lots of people are worried about getting a tooth extracted.  They usually think that they will have to go to sleep or that it is very difficult.  

This is just not the case for almost every extraction that we do.  A little push and squeeze, and you are done.

Sedation is an option for the faint of heart but most do not need it.  Often we can amaze the little ones when we take the tooth out “magically” with a magic mirror and sleight of hand because they do not know the tooth was already gone.  See our section on Sedation for more information.

Today a girl from Lake Oswego needed several teeth out for her braces.  After soaking her gums with a powerful anesthestic gel, the shot was so comfortable that she did not know what I was doing.  Once the anesthestic was working well, we had to explain the difference between a push and a pinch and how teeth are connected to ears through the jaw bone.

Little ones often worry about the numb feeling or confuse pressure with pain.  Explanations of what to expect using carefully chosen words make kids much more comfortable.

The gums are gently pushed away from the tooth to be extracted and then the tooth is rocked back and forth.  Shaking the whole head a little bit helps distract from the sensation of firm pressure.  

Once the tooth is out, a guaze pad stops the bleeding.  And a prize brings out a smile.

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