What If My Child Has An Infected Tooth?
When you have an infected tooth, this could cause your child serious discomfort and eventually, lead to premature tooth loss. But our team can offer a treatment to address the pain and prevent these complications. In today’s blog, your Dallas, TX, pediatric dentist talks about treating dental infection with a pulpotomy.
The Causes of an Infection in Little Smiles
When a tooth is infected, this means that harmful oral bacteria has reached the pulp, the collection of living tissue that makes up the nerve center of the tooth. For many, this occurs due to an untreated cavity, but an injury to the tooth or teeth grinding could also compromise the protective outer enamel. Treatment is crucial because over time, the infection could essentially kill the pulp, so the tooth requires extraction to prevent the spread of infection to other parts of the smile. You should bring your little one in at the first sign of trouble!
The Warning Signs of an Infected Tooth
Children may report pain in a tooth that doesn’t subside after a day, including persistent toothaches or pain when biting down or chewing. There could be swelling near the tooth or even a discharge from it. If you bring your child in for checkups every six months, we can likely catch this issue in the decay stage, otherwise be sure you bring your child in when he or she reports pain in a tooth.
The Pulpotomy Process
Our team will begin with an initial examination, in which we take digital images of the teeth to identify rhea presence and assess the severity of the infection. To ensure your child is comfortable during the treatment process, our team will administer a local anesthetic to the area being treated. We also have sedation options to help your little one enter a deep state of calm and relaxation, often with little memory of the procedure.
Our team will then open the tooth to access the pulp and remove the infected portions. We then add a special medicated filling to the tooth. For some, this completes the procedure, while others may need a crown placed to protect the tooth. If you have any questions about how we diagnose and treat an infected tooth, or about our pulpotomy or dental restoration, then contact our team today. Don’t let your kids live with discomfort, let us help protect and preserve their smiles!
Schedule a Visit for a Root Canal Alternative
If you have questions about how we treat infected teeth in your child’s smile, or if you would like to schedule an appointment with our team, call your Dallas, TX pediatric dentist, Dr. Marr, at (214) 321-4880. We can offer relief with a pulpotomy!
filed under: Restorations for Kids