Is Your Child’s Tooth Infected?
When a cavity isn’t treated in a timely manner, this could lead to an infected tooth. Without treatment, this in turn means an increased risk of tooth loss and even the onset of misalignment! In today’s blog, your Dallas, TX, pediatric dentist talks about how we can help infected teeth with a pulpotomy procedure.
Warning Signs and Causes
An infection develops when harmful bacteria come into contact with the inner pulp, the nerve center in each tooth. This could happen due to an untreated cavity, or damage from injury or teeth grinding. Warning signs include tooth sensitivity to food or drink in the early stages, to persistent toothaches, headaches, jaw pain, pain when biting down or chewing, swelling near the tooth, or a discharge from it. When these symptoms occur, your child should see us right away soft a diagnosis. This will enable our team to find out if treatment is necessary, and plan it with precision.
Root Canal Alternative
For children, we have a conservative alternative to the traditional root canal. First, we want to gather detailed digitals x-rays to identify the position and severity of the infection itself. Next, we offer anesthesia and sedation to help your child enter a calm and relaxed state. We will then open the tooth so we can reach and remove the infected portions of the inner pulp. A medicated filling is then added. In some cases, we may top the tooth with a dental crown for additional stabilization. We could use stainless steel for the side and rear teeth, which endure greater bite forces, or zirconia of the front facing ones, as this one offers a more lifelike appearance.
Preventive Actions
Treatment stops discomfort and prevents the loss of the tooth. After treatment, consider a few changes to limit the risk of future decay and infection. For example, make sure your kids brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes with a fluoride toothpaste, and floss every evening too. You should also limit their consumption of sugary foods and drinks as well. Find time to see us for a checkup and cleaning too, so we can remove harmful plaque buildup before it weakens enamel. We could also offer fluoride treatments to strengthen the outer enamel, and dental sealants to safeguard the rear teeth against cavities and infection.
If you have any questions about how we address an infected tooth in a little smile, then contact our team today to learn more.
Your Dallas, TX, Dentist Offers Restorative Care for Kids
Our team is ready to help safeguard little smiles and keep them bright and healthy. If you have any questions about treating little smiles and preventing complications, then contact your Dallas, TX pediatric dentist, Dr. Marr, by calling (214) 321-4880.
filed under: Restorations for Kids