How to Prepare Your Teen for a Surgical Tooth Extraction

Any time a dentist has to make an incision into the gums to remove a tooth, it’s considered a surgical tooth extraction. The most common example is wisdom tooth extraction, a procedure that is necessary for many young people. If your teen needs a surgical tooth extraction, you’re probably wondering how to best prepare them for the experience.

The team at Cannon Oral Surgery understands that parents and teens can be anxious about having one or more teeth surgically extracted. We’re here today to provide guidance on preparing for the visit and making the most of your experience in our Chattanooga, Tennessee, office. 

Let’s discuss how parents can help their teens feel more comfortable and confident about surgical tooth extraction. 

Focus on the necessity of the procedure

When discussing surgical tooth extraction with kids and teens, it helps to explain why the procedure is necessary. There are several reasons a healthy tooth might need to be extracted.  

In some cases, a permanent tooth cannot properly erupt through the gum tissue because a baby tooth remains in place, or because the adjacent teeth are crowding the area. Extraction provides the space needed for the permanent tooth to move through the gums and in line with the rest of the teeth.

Surgical extraction is sometimes necessary in the initial phase of orthodontic treatment. If there is not enough room in the upper or lower arch of teeth for braces or aligners to shift teeth into optimal alignment, a healthy tooth may need to be extracted to make room. If the tooth cannot be removed through simple extraction techniques, surgical tooth extraction may be the only option. 

Removing wisdom teeth is the most common type of surgical tooth extraction for kids and teens. This procedure ensures that wisdom teeth cannot place undue pressure on the remaining teeth and nerve tissue, and that your child’s smile is as healthy as possible. 

Know your child and tailor your discussions accordingly

Parents should never lie to a child about an upcoming dental procedure. Doing so can create trust issues between parent and child and set your child up for a lifetime of fear around dental care. 

However, no one knows your child better than you. If you have a teen who is fascinated by health and technology, they might love learning the details of surgical tooth extraction and find comfort in understanding every step of the process. 

If your teen is squeamish about health and dental matters, they might feel more comfortable focusing on the procedure’s outcome rather than delving into the step-by-step details. 

Talk about surgical tooth extraction aftercare

One of the best ways to prepare a teen for a surgical tooth extraction is to focus on the recovery period and how to ensure a positive outcome. You can begin by discussing the appointment's timing and whether school or other activities will be missed. 

Teens recover from a surgical tooth extraction very quickly, but a couple of days of taking it easy is always a good idea after a dental procedure. Plan ahead and discuss how to make the most of this downtime, whether that’s catching up on a favorite show or getting some much-needed extra rest. 

You should also discuss the need to take great care of the extraction site or sites to enhance healing. Be sure your teen knows how to properly clean their teeth and gums without disturbing the surgical site. 

Talk about the need to eat soft foods for a few days, and plan a menu around your child’s favorites. This is a great time to indulge in frozen yogurt, mac and cheese, and other foods that won’t harm healing gum tissue. 

Encourage your teen to ask questions

Dr. Cannon wants everyone in his care to feel comfortable asking questions or expressing concerns as they arise. We believe that patients who are fully informed about their procedures will have better outcomes, as they know what to expect both in our office and during their recovery. 

Let your teen know that this is a great time to begin playing a more active role in their health care. They should feel comfortable discussing the procedure and asking follow-up questions. 

When you’re ready to book your teen’s visit, we offer online scheduling and phone booking. Just reach out to the Cannon Oral Surgery team to check appointment availability.