Pediatric Root Canal vs. Tooth Extraction

In many cases, a pediatric dentist can save a severely damaged tooth with a pediatric root canal. However, there are times when the damaged tooth is beyond saving, and the dentist will need to remove it with a tooth extraction procedure. The damage may be tooth decay, cracks, or chips. If your child has a severely damaged tooth, a pediatric dentist can determine which restorative dental procedure suits their dental needs. Here are the basics of each so that you can know what to expect heading into the appointment.

The basics of pediatric root canals

The goal of a pediatric root canal is to remove any infected or inflamed tissue within the tooth's root. This means that the pediatric dentist will need to drill into the tooth, remove that tissue, and then fill the root with rubber-like material (gutta-percha). To minimize pain and discomfort, they will inject a local anesthetic to numb the surrounding gum tissue. After cleaning and filling the root, the pediatric dentist will seal the tooth.

Pediatric root canals can treat primary (baby) and permanent (adult) teeth. The pediatric dentist can restore the root canal-treated tooth with a dental crown if necessary. Each crown is custom-made to fit like a cap on the treated tooth, restoring the tooth's strength and function.

Restoring the tooth

It is recommended that a tooth be restored with a pediatric root canal when the damage has affected the tooth root. Most often, a deep cavity (tooth decay) is the reason for a root canal. Other examples are if the tooth has sustained a severe chip or hairline crack, compromising the tooth root.

A pediatric root canal may be necessary before a tooth extraction procedure. Every dentist strives to save as much of the natural tooth as possible. The result is fewer complications and less invasive dental restorations — after all, restoring an existing tooth is easier than completely replacing a missing tooth.

Tooth extractions from a pediatric dentist

Tooth extractions are a last-resort dental treatment for severely damaged teeth. A pediatric dentist only recommends these procedures when the tooth is beyond saving with a root canal. However, if the damaged tooth is a primary tooth about to fall out anyway, the dentist may perform an extraction to avoid unnecessary dental work.

Parents should not let a severely decayed primary tooth in a child's mouth go untreated. For one, it could fall out prematurely and interfere with the development of the child's jaw and smile. Secondly, the decay will likely cause toothaches, gum tissue, facial swelling, and other uncomfortable symptoms. A pediatric dentist can relieve these symptoms and prevent the decay from spreading to other teeth.