The Correct Method for Extracting Deciduous Teeth

Generally, deciduous teeth may be extracted when one or more of the following conditions are present: permanent teeth have already erupted; deciduous teeth are loose; or deciduous teeth exhibit severe caries or recurrent oral inflammation.

1. Oral examination: Assess gingival redness and swelling, evaluate crown mobility, and obtain dental radiographs to assess root resorption.

2. If the deciduous tooth is Grade III mobile—i.e., only the crown remains attached to the gingiva—topical anesthesia with tetracaine may be applied, followed by grasping the crown with a needle holder and gently extracting the tooth.

3. If the deciduous tooth is retained and adherent to the alveolar bone, local infiltration anesthesia should first be administered. Subsequently, a dental forceps is used to loosen the tooth before extraction.