Extractions & Space Maintainers

Guiding Growing Smiles Back to Calm Seas

Sometimes a baby tooth reaches a point of damage where it becomes a risk not only to your child’s other baby teeth, but also the adult teeth lying just beneath the surface. In this situation, Dr. Skip, Dr. Stephanie or Dr. Katie may recommend extracting the damaged tooth. After the extraction, they will place a space maintainer in the gap. This keeps the remaining teeth from drifting in and preventing the adult tooth from erupting.

Blonde curly-haired little boy smiling at Wilmington Pediatric Dentistry before extractions and space maintainer treatment

While extractions and space maintainers are often a last resort in pediatric dental care, our crew approaches every treatment with a gentle hand and a steady course—keeping your child’s oral health sailing smoothly. We understand that every little smile is different, and we’re dedicated to helping your child’s smile stay bright, strong and ready to weather any wave.

When Are Extractions & Space Maintainers Necessary?

There are a handful of situations in which your child’s dentist may recommend extractions & space maintainers.

Sometimes, baby teeth are too close together, making it difficult for the adult teeth to come in. They can grow crowded together, putting your child at risk for jaw issues, gum disease and cavities. Creating a little extra space helps their smile stay on course and sailing smooth as their permanent teeth come in.

If your child has extensive decay, this can spread to other teeth or even the erupting adult teeth. The decay can be too much for a filling alone, so in order to protect the healthy teeth, it’s necessary to remove the decayed teeth. Think of it as clearing stormy waters so the rest of your child’s smile can stay bright and healthy.

Accidents happen—if your child has damaged their baby teeth, whether they had a fall or were playing sports, their dentist may recommend an extraction to help them heal. Our team approaches each situation with gentle care and a steady hand, helping their smile get back to calm seas.

Though uncommon, sometimes adult teeth erupt out of place. When this occurs, the roots of the baby teeth never absorb into the adult teeth, so they never get the signal to fall out. This can create a sort of “shark teeth” effect. We’ll leave shark teeth to the ones swimming offshore and use extractions & space maintainers to keep your child’s smile anchored and growing beautifully.

Dentist carefully performing treatment in a child’s mouth for extractions and space maintainers at Wilmington Pediatric Dentistry

Procedure For Extractions & Space Maintainers

If Dr. Skip, Dr. Stephanie or Dr. Katie recommend a procedure for extractions & space maintainers for your child, we understand that it can seem daunting. Our goal is to help you and your child feel calm and confident and informed before ever setting sail on treatment. Think of this as your map for smooth sailing ahead. Here are the steps your child’s dentist will take during the procedure:

Your child’s dentist will prepare the treatment area by ensuring it is totally numb, helping your little one stay calm and comfortable before we even leave the dock. The entire procedure is smooth sailing and completely painless.

Dr. Skip, Dr. Stephanie or Dr. Katie will use dental tools to carefully extract the tooth with the precision of a seasoned captain navigating a reef. Your child’s dentist will ensure the surrounding tooth and bone remain healthy and undamaged.

After the extraction, your child’s dentist will place a space maintainer, acting like a gentle anchor to keep nearby teeth from drifting out of place into open waters and protecting the spot where the new tooth will eventually surface.

Aftercare For Extractions & Space Maintainers

After the procedure for tooth extractions & space maintainers, it’s important to practice proper aftercare and listen closely to the instructions from your child’s dentist. 

In general, Dr. Skip, Dr. Stephanie and Dr. Katie recommend the following:

Bleeding: It is normal to bleed after extractions. The heaviest bleeding will occur fifteen to thirty minutes following the procedure. Blood may ooze from the extraction site for the next three to six hours. Like the tide, this will ebb naturally with time. Placing direct pressure on the extraction site for a continuous ten to fifteen minutes with some gauze, a washcloth or tissue paper can control a majority of normal bleeding.

Pain: Following their extractions & space maintainers procedure, your child may experience some soreness or pain. To help with any potential pain, each child should have an age/weight-appropriate dose of ibuprofen before the numbness wears off. Once the numbness wears off, the ibuprofen should be continued for the next twenty-four to forty-eight hours as needed. We want your child’s recovery to stay smooth and steady.

Numbness: Your child’s cheek, lip and tongue will be numbed with local anesthetic for approximately two to three hours. Please be very careful that your child does not bite their cheek or pick at this area. As the numbness goes away, the area may feel odd and tingly. Like the waves after a storm, the sensation will soon settle. This is normal and should resolve within a few hours after the procedure for extractions & space maintainers.

Diet: Stick to a diet of soft foods and liquids for the first six to twelve hours following their procedure for extractions & space maintainers. Dr. Skip, Dr. Stephanie and Dr. Katie discourage drinking through straws for a couple of days. They recommend cold foods such as popsicles, milkshakes and crushed ice as they may feel the best during the first six to twelve hours. These cool as the “ocean breeze” snacks can help soothe and comfort your child’s smile.

Oral Hygiene: We encourage maintaining usual brushing and flossing except in the extraction site for three days. In the extraction area, Dr. Skip, Dr. Stephanie and Dr. Katie recommend using a moistened washcloth to cleanse the teeth and gums and to rinse using mouthwash or salt water. A gentle salt water rinse can act like a mini “sea cleanse” for the mouth, keeping everything fresh while healing. It’s best to keep rinsing to a minimum, as this can cause bleeding.

Concerns About Extractions & Space Maintainers And When To Call Us

We are right here at the helm, guiding you and your child through every step of their oral care journey. If the seas of recovery ever feel a little rough, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at (910) 791-7380, especially if they are experiencing any of the following symptoms. Our team is always ready to help steady the course.

  • Prolonged bleeding
  • Pain following the first forty-eight hours
  • Extraction site hasn’t healed after fourteen days
  • Any other questions or concerns

Healthy Smiles Start at Wilmington Pediatric Dentistry

Expert Pediatric Dental Care

At Wilmington Pediatric Dentistry, we make it easy to schedule your child’s next visit! Whether it’s their first dental checkup or a routine cleaning, our friendly team is here to ensure every experience is positive and stress-free. Give us a call at (910) 791-7380 and our team will confirm your preferred date and time. We look forward to helping your child enjoy a lifetime of healthy, happy smiles!

Curly-haired blonde little boy smiling at Wilmington Pediatric Dentistry after a pulpotomy treatment
Two smiling children hugging outdoors on a sunny day, showing healthy and happy smiles after a dental visit.
Wilmington Pediatric Dentistry light-blue logo featuring a smiling tooth surfing on a toothbrush wave with sun icons.

Catching Waves, Creating Smiles

2606 Iron Gate Dr., Suite 200, Wilmington, NC 28412

(910) 791-7380