I have one baby tooth which has not come out. Now one of my adult teeth is trying to come in and it is pushing up a bit to the back of the tooth. My pediatric dentist says that I need to have the tooth extracted. I’m a bit worried about this. Is it necessary to take out my tooth? If so, will it hurt?

Amelia

Dear Amelia,

I am glad you wrote. You didn’t say how old you are, but I am guessing still in your early teens if you have adult teeth coming in. I’m impressed by your ability to communicate so well. I also love that you are trying to get information instead of just avoiding the situation out of fear.

Your pediatric dentist is correct, it is important that you remove the baby tooth. If you don’t, it will deflect the adult tooth and you will end up needing braces to get your teeth straightened.

Taking out baby teeth is much easier than it is to take out adult teeth because of the difference in the roots. Your dentist should put a numbing medication on your gums that will make it easy to give you the anesthetic.

If you are super nervous about it, you can ask your dentist for some dental sedation. If your pediatric dentist does not offer that, you can go to a general dentist. Many are fine treating children. Plus, you’re not really a child anymore and are fine to go to a regular dentist. If your pediatric dentist does offer sedation, you can stay there to have the extraction done.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentists Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.