Just like permanent teeth, baby teeth can sustain tooth pulp damage due to deep decay or trauma. Your trusted team at Smile Explorers Pediatric Dentistry may recommend a baby root canal to remove the damaged pulp tissue and save the tooth. Here’s all you need to know about children’s root canals and why they’re preferable to extracting damaged teeth.

Why Save a Damaged Baby Tooth?

Repairing a child’s damaged tooth and restoring its function is always a top priority. That’s because maintaining healthy primary teeth is essential for your child’s current and future oral health.

Losing a baby tooth prematurely can impact a child’s oral health and development. Those tiny pearly whites help your little one learn how to speak. They also make it easier to chew, ensuring proper nutrition.

Baby teeth are essential for the alignment of the adult teeth developing behind the scenes. They hold the space needed for them and guide them into the correct position when ready to come in.

Leaving a gap in your child’s smile can result in the adjacent teeth shifting and tilting, leading to crooked teeth, a crowded mouth, and problems with the bite. That often translates to the need for orthodontic treatments, such as braces, down the road.

Baby Root Canal Treatment: An Overview

Inside a primary tooth is the pulp chamber with nerves, soft tissues, and blood vessels. If the pulp tissues become infected or inflamed, your child will need pulp therapy or a children’s root canal. Otherwise, your child may have complications, including tooth pain or an abscess, which can be quite a serious matter.

There are two treatment options that we offer, depending on your child’s unique needs:

• Pulpotomy: Your child will require a pulpotomy if the infected tooth has a healthy root. We will clean out the diseased pulp then fill the tooth with an antibacterial agent to protect the remaining healthy pulp tissue and prevent the infection from recurring.
• Pulpectomy: Also known as a partial root canal, this procedure is necessary when the infection or inflammation extends into the root canal. We will remove the pulp tissues, clean out the roots, and place a filling material to seal the space.

Depending on the location of the affected tooth, we may recommend a stainless steel or composite resin pediatric crown. That will help protect the tooth and maintain its health and function.

How Can You Prevent the Need for Pulp Therapy?

The best way to protect your child’s smile and keep dental disease at bay is to maintain excellent oral hygiene practices. Encourage your little one to brush and floss regularly, and don’t forget to visit Smile Explorers Pediatric Dentistry for twice-a-year dental exams and cleanings. Caring for your child’s smile right from the start will lay the groundwork for a lifetime of healthy, happy smiles.

Pediatric Root Canals Near Me

Visit Smile Explorers Pediatric Dentistry in Glendale, AZ, to learn more about restoring a tooth with pulp damage using a baby root canal. We’re all about maintaining healthy teeth and beautiful smiles. Call us to schedule your appointment today!