Do Kids Ever Need Root Canal Treatment?
When a tooth in a child’s smile has a cavity, we offer care with dental fillings or even a crown. But when an infection develops, more substantial treatment is necessary to avoid the loss of the tooth. To help, your Dallas, TX, pediatric dentist could offer a root canal alternative known as a pulpotomy.
The Causes of Infection
Children develop dental infections the same way adults do. At the center of every tooth is a bundle of nerve tissues known as the pulp, which keeps each tooth function and healthy. An infection means that bacteria has reached the pulp, usually through a serious injury to the tooth or due to an untreated cavity. The injury could be the result of an accident or teeth grinding, while a cavity is formed when poor oral hygiene habits weaken and erode the outer enamel, allowing a cavity to form. When the tooth decay isn’t related, this enables it to grow and spread through the tooth structure, eventually reaching the inner pulp.
Warning Signs of Trouble
Children with an infected tooth may experience toothaches and tooth sensitivity, or pain when they bite down or chew. Headaches and jaw pain could develop, as could swelling near the tooth or even a bad tasting discharge from it. When your kids report discomfort, bring them in for an appointment to see if they need treatment. You could also make sure they attend six-month visits for checkups and cleanings, so we can catch problems like these early on.
The Pulpotomy
When your child arrives, we will sit them down and talk about the pulpotomy procedure, and also take detailed images and digital x-rays of their smile. We administer a local anesthetic to ensure they’re comfortable, and we also have dental sedation as well, so they can enter a more calm and relaxed state. Once your little one is comfortable, we then gently open the tooth to remove the infected portions. A special medicated material is added to the interior of the tooth. Finally, we cap the tooth with a crown, made from stainless steel or materials like zirconia. This protects the remaining structure.
If you have any questions about how we treat cavities and infections in little smiles, or about the preventive treatments that can help avoid the onset of these complications, then contact our team today to learn more. We look forward to helping smiles in our community stay comfortable, healthy, and bright.
Does Your Child Need Restorative Treatment?
We would like to help your children maintain good oral health and stronger smiles with restorative dentistry. If you have any questions about treating major discomfort with a child’s smile, then contact your Dallas, TX pediatric dentist, Dr. Marr, by calling (214) 321-4880.
filed under: Restorations for Kids