Oral Surgery

Oral Surgery, Tooth Extraction, & Space Maintainers

The team at Orem Pediatric Dentistry does whatever possible to prevent the need for dental extractions. Still, there are times when removing a tooth is the best option for a child.

Sometimes a tooth may need to be removed if it becomes severely infected, or if it prevents a permanent tooth from coming in properly. Dr. R. Bruce Howell offers comfortable, efficient tooth extraction in Orem, Utah, for patients in need of this service.

Tooth Extraction

It’s never pleasant to hear that your child might need an extraction. Orem Pediatric Dentistry does everything possible to avoid painful treatments. But when extraction is necessary, we ensure your child is as comfortable as possible. Often, we can even extract teeth without administering shots. We use a topical anesthetic that numbs the area. Unless the child is too young or afraid, we can usually achieve this while they’re still awake.

Root Canal

Root canal procedures also have a bad rap as a painful treatment option. However, with our state-of-the-art WaterLase, we are able to limit pain even more than with traditional root canal treatments. It can be hard to imagine that a child may need a root canal. Yet, it does happen, and it actually relieves pain from infection deep under the root. After a root canal, patients who had severe infections express that they feel far more comfortable.

Dental Space Maintainers

Space maintainers are a device that leaves room for adult teeth to come in when a child has lost a baby tooth prematurely. Without a space maintainer, the gap in the teeth might close, causing longterm dental problems. Avoid the need for expensive future treatments. If your child is missing a tooth, get a space maintainer to help adult teeth come in correctly.

Comfortable Oral Surgery for Children

Dr. Howell and our dental assistants take great care to make sure your child’s procedure is quick and comfortable. We use a local anesthetic or, whenever necessary, laughing gas or sedation. Once the treatment is complete, our team will discuss any aftercare recommendations to ensure a speedy recovery.

If your child needs oral surgery or has multiple cavities, we invite you to utilize our quality services at Orem Pediatric Dentistry. Please call us today at 801-802-7200 to learn more about us and to schedule an appointment with our dentist.

Tooth Extraction for Severe Cavities

There are many treatment options available to help save a tooth that has experienced damage or decay. However, if the tooth has become compromised to the point that it cannot be restored, or if the infection has the possibility of threatening other teeth or tissues, it may be best to remove the tooth.

Extraction may also be advised if there are too many teeth in a child’s mouth and crowding is occurring. Typically this happens when permanent teeth are erupting without displacing primary teeth.

Space Maintainers Ensure New Teeth Come in Correctly

If Dr. Howell needs to remove a primary tooth, he may recommend the use of a space maintainer. These small devices help preserve the current placement of any surrounding teeth until the space is filled by a permanent tooth. One of the functions of baby teeth is to act as placeholders for permanent teeth, helping them erupt in the correct position. If a primary tooth needs to be removed prematurely, a space maintainer helps ensure the proper eruption of any permanent that may follow.

When a tooth requires a more extensive restoration than is reasonable to achieve with a dental filling, Dr. R. Bruce Howell will often recommend a dental crown. Dental crowns (also referred to as “caps”) are designed to fit over the top of damaged teeth, restoring both their function and appearance. They strengthen a patient’s smile while blending discreetly with the surrounding teeth.

Patients may need dental crowns for a variety of reasons, including to protect a tooth after root canal therapy or to repair a tooth damaged from accident or injury. Dental crowns are made from gold, metal, or ceramic materials, based on the patient’s situation and preferences. Durable stainless steel crowns are often recommended for primary teeth, while tooth-colored zirconia or ceramic crowns are typically placed in permanent or visible teeth.

Root Canal Treatment for Serious Tooth Infection

If a tooth becomes severely infected, a root canal treatment may be required to save the tooth and prevent the need for extraction. We are pleased to provide comfortable, effective root canals in Orem, Utah, for patients young and old.

For many, root canals have the stigma of being painful and unpleasant. But actually, root canal treatment is used to alleviate pain by repairing a tooth that has developed an inner infection. Often, root canals are necessary if a tooth has untreated decay or has been injured due to accident.

Root canal therapy is a straightforward procedure, typically completed over the course of two visits.

To begin, Dr. R. Bruce Howell will open the tooth and remove any infected material. He may use our cutting-edge WaterLase® dental laser, which achieves comfortable, precise results for patients. Once any infection is removed, the tooth will be filled, sealed, and capped with a temporary restoration crown. In a couple of weeks, your final crown will be placed to ensure the tooth remains healthy and protected for years to come.

If a child’s primary tooth has become infected due to injury or decay, Dr. Howell may recommend a pulpotomy, essentially root canal therapy for baby teeth. Your child’s primary teeth, while only temporary, perform key functions in speech development and daily eating and chewing. It is typically best to keep teeth in place until the time when they naturally fall out to make way for permanent teeth.

When your child visits our office for their regular check-ups, we can evaluate their smile and help them prevent dental disease from ever occurring. But if inner tooth care is ever needed, our team is ready to provide a caring comfortable experience. Please call Orem Pediatric Dentistry at 801-802-7200 today if you have any questions or to schedule an appointment with our friendly dentist.

Eliminate Your Child’s Pain Today

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Bring your child to see us to ensure the best possible experience at the dentist, on top of the best oral care in Utah Valley.