Do Kids Ever Need Root Canals?

Posted January 7, 2025

When your tooth is infected, your dentist will likely prescribe a root canal to save the tooth and stop discomfort. But what about kids? When children have an infected tooth, we can offer a more conservative alternative known as a pulpotomy. In today’s blog, your Dallas, TX, pediatric dentist talks about root canal therapy.

Infection and Tooth Loss

An infection can occur when a cavity remains untreated and eventually allows bacteria to reach the pulp, the nerve center of a tooth. When this happens, your child experiences discomfort when eating, a persistent toothache that grows in severity with time, and pain in the face and jaw. Without treatment, this could mean the tooth is lost prematurely, which can increase the risk of misalignment. But with treatment, we can stop an infection and ensure the tooth falls out on schedule. Instead of a traditional root canal, we will protect little smiles with a pulpotomy.

A Root Canal Alternative

When your little one complains about a toothache, bring him or her in for an exam, so we can take a close look at the tooth with digital x-rays. This enables us to identify the presence of a cavity or infection, and to assess the severity. With this information, we can plan treatment. If a pulpotomy is the right option for your child, we will start treatment by opening the tooth to remove the infected portions of the inner tissues. We then add a medicated filling. For some, this completes the procedure. However, if your child has a more substantial infection, we may need to cap the tooth with a crown. We can offer NuSmile zirconia for a more lifelike appearance, or for the side and rear teeth we may recommend a stainless steel option.

Keeping Your Child Comfortable

We always strive to ensure that your child has an enjoyable treatment experience. To help them avoid discomfort and to counter their anxiety, we will numb the tooth with a local anesthetic and could also offer sedation to help kids enter a state of calm and relaxation, remaining conscious but having no memory of the procedure in many cases. We could offer one of three different options depending on their age, weight, medical history, and anxiety levels. If you have any questions about our pulpotomy procedure, or if you want to schedule their first checkup and cleaning of 2025, then contact our team today to get started.

Schedule Their Restorative Visit Today!

Pediatric Dental Care at Casa Linda offers solutions for advanced tooth decay or dental infection, so your child can enjoy a full and healthy smile. To learn more or schedule an appointment, call our Dallas, TX, team today at 214-321-4880 today.