Why Your Child Needs Dental Surgery

Dentists recommend dental surgery when the treatment is too significant for a common office visit: it would cause a lot of pain, or it would take longer than a child can sit still. If a child cannot stay still, dental tools can cause injury. With general anesthesia, the child is asleep and still, and the dentist can work safely.

Baby teeth hold space for adult teeth. If a baby tooth is lost to decay early, neighboring teeth can drift and leave too little room for the adult tooth, which can lead to crowding and potential orthodontic treatment later. A decayed baby tooth can also hide an abscess under the root, right where the adult tooth is forming.

Complex treatment while awake, with buzzing equipment and bright lights, can leave a young child afraid to visit the dentist for future visits. Sleeping through the procedure helps a child keep a more positive view of dental care.

While your child is asleep, the dentist can see the whole mouth, find damage that could not be seen before, and complete all of the treatment in one appointment instead of several return visits. See the pediatric dental procedures we perform.

Tooth decay can cause constant pain and sharp, sudden pain while eating or talking. Dental surgery treats the cause so your child can get back to enjoying everyday life.

Treating decay early supports your child’s overall wellness as they grow. Both the American Dental Association and American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry have cited the link between pediatric dental health and systemic growth, nutrition, and chronic disease prevention.