Does A Child Ever Need A Root Canal?
If a tooth develops a dental infection, this could cause your little one serious discomfort and even risk premature tooth loss! To treat an infection, we can offer a version of a root canal that is more conservative in approach. In today’s blog, your Dallas, TX, pediatric dentist talks about treating infected teeth with a pulpotomy!
The Causes and Dangers of an Infected Tooth
Let’s talk about dental infection in little smiles. An infection means that harmful oral bacteria have made contact with the pulp, the nerve center of your tooth. This contact could be possible through an injury to the tooth, or even an untreated cavity or from chronic teeth grinding. When this happens, your little one could experience a toothache that doesn’t subside with time and pain when they eat or speak. The discomfort could spread to the face and jaw too, and some could even experience a discharge from the tooth that tastes bad.
When your kids complain about pain in their smile, bring them in right away for a diagnosis. We will examine the teeth with digital technology to see if an infection has occurred, and to plan treatment in detail. The pulpotomy then provides relief and prevents the tooth from hurting or requiring extraction, which could prevent the spread of infection to other parts of the smile.
A Root Canal Alternative
With the pulpotomy, we will gently open the tooth so we can access the interior. We then remove the infected portions of the interior tissues, and add a special medicated filling to the inside of the tooth. For some, this will complete the procedure. If the infection is more severe, then we may need to cap the tooth with a crown. We have stainless steel for the side and rear teeth, which is very strong and durable, and we also have a NuSmile zirconia crown, which is strong and also more lifelike in appearance. The procedure means the tooth isn’t lost prematurely or extracted, and the smile remains intact and healthy!
Keeping Smiles Comfortable
We know the idea of a more involved treatment could be scary for kids, but our team always takes time to talk to them about the process, and answer their questions and concerns. We will examine the process in detail and even talk about the unique tools we will use. To numb the area directly, we could offer local anesthesia. Our team also has sedation to help kids of all ages enter a deep state of calm and relaxation, with little to no memory of the process in many cases!
PDC Kids Provides Relief with a Pulpotomy
Our pulpotomy procedure can bring relief and preserve little smiles. To find out more about treating an infected tooth, call Pediatric Dental Care at Casa Linda in Dallas, TX, today at (214) 321-4880.
filed under: Restorations for Kids