Improve Your Child’s Chances of Never Needing a Pulpotomy!

Posted December 16, 2019

Some dental treatments aren’t usually appropriate for children, for many reasons. For example, if your child loses a baby (primary) tooth, then replacing it with a dental implant wouldn’t be as good as an idea as it would be for an adult who loses a tooth. Root canal therapy is another treatment that’s usually recommended for adult teeth that have become severely infected. Though its much rarer for children to receive baby root canal treatment, or pulpotomy, it’s unwise to leave a tooth severely infected, even if it’s a primary tooth. Fortunately, with the right level of care and attention, you can help your child avoid the need for baby root canal therapy, even if tooth decay has already developed.

Why it’s important to avoid serious tooth decay

Tooth decay is the condition that leads to the need for root canal treatment, but only its severe form. A tooth’s root canal is the inner part of the root that connects a tooth to the jawbone. When it becomes this severe, the decay infects the tooth’s nerves, blood vessels, and other soft tissues leading from the pulp chamber and through the root canal. Severe decay can leave a tooth severely compromised, and in young children, this may also compromise the permanent tooth structure developing underneath the baby tooth.

Preventing tooth decay from developing

The best way to help your child avoid the need for a pulpotomy is to prevent tooth decay from forming in the first place. The most important rule in cavity prevention is to practice excellent dental hygiene every day, so be sure your child brushes their teeth at least twice a day and flosses at least once. This controls the buildup of bacteria (plaque) that leads to tooth decay until your child’s next dental visit, when we can more thoroughly clean away plaque and its calcified form, tartar.

Avoiding more serious treatment if a cavity forms

If tooth decay does form and your child develops a cavity, then there’s still a chance to avoid a pulpotomy by treating the cavity as soon as possible. With a conservative, tooth-colored filling, we can save your child’s healthy tooth structure and stop the decay from progressing to avoid the need for more extensive treatment. This also improves the health, growth, and development of your child’s permanent smile.

Learn more about protecting your child’s smile

Protecting your child’s smile often means avoiding the need for more extensive treatment, such as a pulpotomy. For more information, schedule an appointment by calling Pediatric Dental Care at Casa Linda in Dallas, TX today at 214-321-4880. We proudly serve patients who live around Casa Linda and all surrounding Dallas communities.