Perhaps that little cavity has developed into a larger, more damaging one. Maybe your child’s baby teeth haven’t come out before the permanent ones have started erupting. In some cases, teens can have impacted wisdom teeth, pushing on the rest. Regardless of the reason, sometimes tooth extraction in kids becomes necessary.

Seeing your precious child experience difficulty and potential discomfort can be hard, but as a parent, you need to be strong to help your child heal properly after a tooth extraction. Here are some ways to guide them through to a smoother recovery.

Before you sign on the dotted line for anything—even good things like improvements to your smile—you should know exactly what you’re getting yourself into. For instance, did you know that popular veneers require removing a little bit of your teeth’s precious enamel?

But don’t let that scare you! Understanding more about how veneers work, the reasoning behind this removal, and how much enamel is removed can put your mind at ease about getting these remarkable cosmetic enhancements.