Your Child's Experience with Having a Tooth Pulled

I have been told that as far as the bottom front teeth go--it's not imperative that the baby teeth be pulled, even if the big teeth are in--and this happened to my son with both front bottom teeth. The pediatric dentist said just to have him wiggle & twist & work it til it was out. Which he did, then the big teeth moved into position (amazing!).
However, he did have to have a top front tooth pulled due to an abcess from a previous tooth injury. It was not loose even a tiny bit. My son agreed to have it done & gave the thumbs up. The dentist used the numbing gel the administered a novocaine shot (very covertly) and then started YANKING. Thank God I was not there--my husband took him to the appointment--he said she really had to PULL that sucker out. My son has always been good at the dentist and he came through it like a champ. (Mom would have been out cold on the floor!) He was completely fine with it. He was almost 5 when he had it pulled.
Talk to your dentist about whether he/she is recommending pulling it for cosmetic reasons only or if it truly needs to be pulled out. Google "shark teeth" and see what it says.

My daughter is 7... and she had a loose baby tooth at her check up.
The Dentist asked if we wanted it pulled. I asked my Daughter and she said okay.
I said okay.
The Dentist put a shot of Novacaine. My Daughter was fine about it. She said it was just a pinch. Then the Dentist pulled the tooth.
It was fine. My daughter was fine.
The laughing gas was not used on my Daughter, he didn't feel, per HER disposition, that she needed it. And that was true.
My daughter was fine, just with the novacaine shot.

But my daughter, when younger, did have the laughing gas before... for filings. She was fine. It was fine.

Pulling wisdom teeth, is different.

all the best,
Susan

My son had a tooth pulled when he was 4 (infected due to a face plant onto concrete when he was 2).

We used a pediatric dentist who first numbed the tooth and then did the shot. He NEVER let my son see the needle. He used the laughing gas, but mainly because my son was 4 and WIGGLY!

My son needed two doses of numbing stuff before he couldn't feel the shot, but they were patient with him. He never felt the tooth being pulled. The bleeding stopped after about 20 minutes and he was back to his normal active self within about an hour. I was shocked that he wasn't more out of it, but it didn't phase him at all.

Mine were asleep because we took the kids to pediatric Dentists so they would not have to suffer through all that. They were out less than a half hour and they woke up happy and ready to go play. they used a gas and not an iv anesthesia. It is very safe.

There was an answer to a similar question on here awhile back...the suggestion was to try caramels and gums and other sticky foods and it just might come out on it's own after all :) If you've already tried all that, I'd make sure she's seeing a pediatric dentist and go with your gut.

Take care,
K.

Well.......here's my 2 cents :o)

If you want her to fear the Dentist the rest of her life, then go ahead with having her tooth pulled...numbing cream to have a tooth pulled???????? It's the ROOT that needs numbing! You might need another dentist!

In my opinion, it's only a baby tooth and is not permanent, so it will eventually fall out on it's own.......I would let nature take it's course........

If you have it pulled, she might fear going to the dentist even for routine cleanings......then you will have delays in office visits due to her fears......then she will have more trouble with her teeth.......I only see negatives from having a baby tooth pulled at 6yrs old.

Laughing gas is great! But some children get "scared" of it because of the sensation of relaxing and "not caring" about their environment. It's more of an adult luxury, in my opinion :O) And I have it with EVERY visit!

Good luck with your decision. I hope everything works out OK

~N. :o)

My daughter had the EXACT same experience at age 5 - except it was her two front teeth at the same time. Pulling the tooth was sooooo EASY. We went to a pediatric dentist and he did a great job of pretending to pull her teeth out through her ears. She had no idea about what was happening and had zero pain and almost no blood. The baby roots are not very strong the teeth pop out quickly. No lsughing gas is needed, and I would woory about giving that to my child. Here is what our dentist did.

First, he put some medicine on her gum to numb it with a piece of guaze. She didn't even realize it. Then he said he was going to look at her teeth - and he actually gave her a shot of novacain. They waited a few minutes and he said he wanted to give them a wiggle with his tool. That is when he pulled them. He snuck them to the assistent. Then he said do you wan tme to pull the teeth out through your mouth or your ears? She said ears and he produced them "ta da!" She had no idea.

I generally believe with kids honesty is the best policy. But I knwo she would hav ebeen scared had she known what was happening. She felt nothing!!!