How Baby Root Canals Can Save Children’s Teeth

Your dentist can recommend baby root canals for severe dental damage. The target tooth may be causing intense pain already. Bringing the child in for treatment can relieve pain and bring back the child’s ability to bite and chew. Here are the details about how baby root canals can keep your child’s tooth intact.

When baby root canals are necessary

Trauma and infection can damage the dental pulp. This can cause pain and inflammation. Without treatment, the infection in the pulp can travel through the root canals and into the jawbone. The condition can result in an abscess that causes even more dental damage and pain.

Visiting the dentist will determine if the child needs baby root canals. Diagnostic imaging tests, such as dental X-rays, can show the dentist the inner condition of the child’s tooth. The dentist can also spot problematic symptoms through a physical dental exam. Here are some of them:

• Pressure sensitivity
• A bump near the affected tooth
• Darkened tooth
• Throbbing pain that does not go away
• Lingering temperature sensitivity

The dentist will aim to keep the remaining dental structures intact by using baby root canals. Maintaining the bones and gum tissue that support the tooth is a priority as well. This type of dental restoration can prevent infection. It can also maintain the tooth’s good health and development. Instead of extracting the affected teeth, the dentist can perform baby root canals.

How baby root canals can keep the tooth

Many parents fear baby root canals for their kids. But contrary to popular belief, this type of dental restoration is painless. The dentist will provide dental sedation and numbing agents, especially to children who are anxious about the procedure. Using tiny tools can remove the damaged pulp.

The pulp contains the blood vessels and nerves of the tooth. Baby root canals will remove the damaged pulp. Clearing this part of the tooth can relieve pain. It can also bring back the child’s comfort in performing dental functions.

Disinfecting and drying the area will prepare it for the sealant. The dentist will then seal the tooth. A dental crown will hold the tooth together. It will restore the tooth to its normal appearance. The cap will protect and strengthen the tooth as well.

Preparing for baby root canals

The dentist for kids will suggest some ways to prepare the child for the root canal. Discussing baby root canals with the parent will clear up the aspects of the procedure. At home, the parent can explain the procedure and why the child will go through it. The child may become scared of the treatment. But simplifying the process will allow the child to understand that the procedure will not be painful at all.

Ordering dental X-rays will help the dentist see the affected area underneath. The images will show how large the area of infection is. They will provide a map of the child’s root canal. The dentist can determine the other teeth that need treatments as well.