HomeAnswersDentistrydental cariesMy 4-year-old daughter has an infected tooth with pain. Does it require extraction?

My 4 year old daughter's tooth is infected and paining. Is it necessary to get it extracted?

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My 4 year old daughter's tooth is infected and paining. Is it necessary to get it extracted?

The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

Medically reviewed by

iCliniq medical review team

Published At May 24, 2017
Reviewed AtDecember 6, 2023

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

My four year old daughter got a cavity filled a month back. But now, she is complaining that the same tooth is paining, and there is a big swelling around the infected tooth. So, we went to the dentist, who gave her antibiotics for seven days. He wants to extract the infected tooth, and he took many x-rays of the tooth. Is this the common course of action? If antibiotics work well and the infection is healed, is removing the tooth necessary? Thank you.

Answered by Dr. Naveen Thomas

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

At four years, we never advise getting the tooth extracted. If the tooth is infected, we perform a procedure called as pulpectomy. Here we remove the infected portion of the pulp, and replace it with a filling or place a small crown to save the tooth until the patient is 10 years old. Do not get it extracted, but ask your dentist to perform this procedure or go to a pedodontist. If the tooth is totally destroyed, then sometimes we suggest to get it extracted, and we place a space maintainer to keep that space open for succeeding tooth to erupt.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Naveen Thomas
Dr. Naveen Thomas

Dentistry

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