Why Is a Baby Root Canal Recommended Instead of Pulling the Baby Tooth?

A baby root canal is sometimes necessary for your child. It is also a common treatment that is often performed on this type of teeth. A root canal treatment is usually carried out on an infected tooth. This can happen because of decay, but it can also be because of an injury to the tooth. Keep reading to find out more.

What is a baby root canal?

Some parents might not think that the baby tooth needs to have a root canal to save it. The parents know it will fall out on its own anyway. However, an infection can cause unbearable pain for the child. The child can also have other serious issues as a result of the infection. In fact, some infections can become fatal.

When the baby tooth is lost prematurely, there might be other issues. For example, the permanent tooth that will follow can be crooked. The baby teeth are placeholders for the permanent teeth. The baby teeth help the permanent teeth come in the right position.

It is important to save a primary tooth, just like it is important to save a permanent tooth. When a tooth is lost, this interferes with things like speech development and chewing. A root canal can also be done to help with a permanent tooth that has a compromised pulp chamber. Decay is often the cause of this.

Understanding the baby teeth

Both the permanent and the primary teeth have protective coatings on the outside. This is called the enamel. The function of this is to protect the inner layers of the tooth, such as the dentin. But when the enamel is damaged, the tooth can begin to decay.

Acids from bacteria and trauma are both things that can damage the enamel of the tooth. The decay can begin to spread to the inner layers of the patient’s tooth. Eventually, the decay will spread to the pulp chamber. This area has nerves and blood vessels. These play an important role when it comes to the tooth’s development.

When the tooth is fully developed, the tooth no longer needs the nerves. However, the nerves are still important. One sign of a compromised pulp chamber is a pain that will not leave, even after taking medication. If the tooth is infected, there might also be pus coming out of it.

During the baby root canal procedure, the dentist will drill a hole in the tooth. Then the pulp chamber’s contents can be removed. A child might receive medication to fight off any infection. Then the child will receive a crown.

Visit a dentist for a baby root canal

If your child shows signs of needing a baby root canal, take them to visit a dentist. The dentist can determine if a root canal is a good idea for them. It is important to save baby teeth when possible. Making an appointment today is the first step in caring for your child’s dental health.

Request an appointment here: https://www.grandparkwaypediatricdental.com or call Grand Parkway Pediatric Dental at (832) 579-0960 for an appointment in our Richmond office.

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