When your child is experiencing severe dental pain as a result of an infected root, having the tooth extracted may appear to be the best alternative. After all, it's only a baby tooth, isn't it? Although primary teeth extraction is occasionally recommended, preserving a child's decayed or damaged tooth rather than removing it prematurely is often the best course of treatment. If your child's tooth has a deep cavity or a severe dental injury that damages the nerve, a
root canal for kids is one of the best ways to protect the integrity of the baby tooth until the adult tooth develops.
What is a root canal treatment for children?
Let us begin with
an overview of root canal treatment. A root canal procedure is used to remove the unhealthy pulp from your child's tooth. The pulp is the tissue that surrounds the tooth roots and contains nerves and blood vessels. Each root holds your child's teeth in place against his or her gums and jawbone. If your child's tooth is broken or infected, he or she may require a root canal. An abscess, cavities, or an accident or injury can potentially induce a root canal. Both baby and permanent teeth can have root canals. Baby teeth are designed to come out naturally. If your child loses a baby tooth too soon, he or she may have biting or speech issues. A root canal can help save the tooth and give it enough time to fall out when the time comes.
How is a root canal performed?
If the child's tooth has a filling, the dentist will remove it. The child's tooth will then be wrapped in a rubber covering. This will keep saliva from entering the root canal. This is significant because saliva can carry harmful bacteria. The cloth wrapped around the tooth will also help prevent the kid from eating tooth fragments or liquid. To access the root canal and pulp, the dentist may need to drill into the crown. The pulp will be refilled when it has been removed.
What are the signs that your child may require a root canal?
Find out
why your child requires root canal therapy. Among the more obvious indications that your child needs to see a dentist right away are:
- Continuous unexplained pain
- Food temperature sensitivity (hot and cold)
- Swelling and redness in the area of the damaged tooth
- Looseness or movement of the damaged tooth that was not expected
Is Root Canal Treatment Safe For Children?
Many parents believe that it is acceptable if their child loses a tooth prematurely rather than having a root canal. They believe that a permanent tooth will eventually develop in its place. However, if a baby tooth falls out prematurely owing to difficulties such as abscess, cavities, infection, or severe damage, it may cause developmental issues in the child. Premature extraction causes several problems, including:
- Slurred speech
- Unable to properly chew food
- Future misalignment of permanent teeth
- Crooked or overlapping adjacent teeth
To avoid these major dental problems that could hamper the child's growth and undermine his self-esteem, it is occasionally necessary to conduct a pulpectomy on the infected tooth.
Root canal therapy gives the tooth enough time to come out naturally later on.
We hope you now have a better grasp of why root canals are important for children. Visit Joyful Smiles Pediatric Dentistry if you are looking for the best
root canal treatment for children in Tinley Park, IL. Book your appointment today.
