Is it necessary to get infected tooth extracted in a kid?

Question

Hello doctor,

My 4-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 wanted 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?

Answer 1

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 a 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 destroyed, then sometimes we suggest getting it extracted, and we place a space maintainer to keep that space open for the succeeding tooth to erupt.

I hope this helps.