It’s always challenging to convince the kids to visit their dentist, more so if they need a tooth extraction. There’s going to be a lot of preparation, story telling, and gift buying before he finally agrees to do it. However, as parents, have you tried these creative ways of convincing your child to have this tooth removed?
Prior to talking to your child to undergo the procedure, it’s important to understand when this is necessary. Here are the dental case scenarios where your child needs to have a tooth or two removed.
- The wisdom tooth is impacted which means it has not fully erupted or is coming out in an incorrect position. This dental case requires an immediate wisdom tooth extraction.
- The child has crowded teeth. If left untreated, some of his teeth become crooked and will further lead to malocclusion.
- Baby teeth are still present until adolescent stage. When these are not removed, there’s no room for the permanent teeth to erupt.
These dental cases need immediate attention as early as childhood so these will not cause the malformation of his teeth. Having said this, you need to convince your child to meet his dentist for tooth removal.
Simple tricks to convince your child to undergo a tooth extraction
Let him earn the bragging rights of a tooth champion.
Be playful and creative in giving him an award as the tooth champion. He gets to tell his family and friends on how brave he is to meet the dentist and sit on his chair. A reward would be meaningful after he successfully goes through the tooth extraction procedure.
He’s not cute when he cries over a toothache.
Crying is definitely a sign that your child is in pain because he has a low tolerance to such discomfort. When his wisdom tooth is impacted, it causes swelling in the jaw area which certainly causes pain to your child. The tooth is suppose to come out naturally, however it’s trapped inside the gums. Assure your child that this should be over once he undergoes a wisdom tooth extraction.
There’s an ice cream treat after a tooth extraction.
A sweet treat is waiting for your child as soon as you step out from the dentist’s clinic. Let him enjoy his soft serve ice cream to numb the gums and allow the blood to clot. This appeals to him as his reward, however, the main purpose is to jumpstart his healing process.
What to expect on the tooth extraction day
After the “baby talk” is over and the appointment is set, it’s time to go and meet the dentist for the tooth extraction procedure. Simply remember to follow these steps.
- Please let your child take his meal at least two hours before the schedule of the tooth removal. This ensures that he’s ready for any medication that will be given to him during the procedure.
- Arrive at the dental clinic 45 minutes prior to the appointment because you need to fill out some paperwork. Also, this allows your child to be at ease inside the dental clinic as he meets the friendly dental staff.
- Take your child inside the dentist’s room and help him settle on the dental chair. You don’t need to worry as he will be given oral sedation and local anesthetic for a pain-free wisdom tooth extraction.
- Strictly adhere to the home care post-operative instructions to help your child manage the pain and heal faster. Bleeding is normal and should not cause you to panic. Your dentist shall provide you with a sterilized gauze pad that your child can bite on to manage the bleeding. Change it every 30 minutes or so, especially once you arrive home.
- Prepare a soft meal for him and damp a cold compress near the extraction site to prevent swelling.
Congratulations! You’ve successfully convinced your child to go through tooth extraction in Markham, Ontario. Let him enjoy more cold and soft food while he’s still recovering. He should feel okay and be free to play again after 72 hours. Don’t forget to give him the reward he deserves and tell his “tooth champion” tale to your friends and family.
