My child's tooth is loose. Should I have it taken out by a dentist?

Baby teeth naturally fall out when the permanent tooth is about to come out. In most cases, it is perfectly fine to let nature take its course and have the child remove it themselves.

Children are so happy when they successfully remove their own teeth!

Children are so happy when they successfully remove their own teeth!

Losing teeth is a great life event for kids and I remember when I lost my teeth as a child. There was such a big sense of achievement when I removed my own tooth! It is one event where your child can develop more responsibility for themselves.

There are times when it is better to have it professionally removed by a dentist.

Here are some reasons:

  • The tooth is causing discomfort to the child
  • The tooth is infected
  • The tooth is badly decayed
  • Removal of the tooth will help the eruption of the permanent tooth
  • The tooth is still present when the permanent tooth has erupted significantly

You may prefer a dentist performing the removal so you do not need to do it at home yourselves. This is a valid reason and your dentist should be happy to remove it for you if it is loose. It is more comfortable for the child, when anaesthetic is used to extract the tooth.

Featured
Should you floss before or after you brush your teeth?

It doesn’t matter.
Does whitening toothpaste actually work?

Whitening toothpastes will work for some people and be of no benefit to others. Everyone wants to look better and what easier way to do it by just changing your toothpaste?!

Must you have a root canal done before a crown?

No. One of my patients told me that a dentist said a root canal must always be done before a crown is placed. This doesn't make sense…
Dental X-rays

It may be a concern for you that too many x-rays are taken so you end up glowing in the dark. In dentistry, the most common radiographs are of very low radiation dose. Some dentists don't even bother to leave the room when they're taken.

Quincy Cheuk