the child holds his cheek with his hand, indicating that a tooth hurts. The boy looks at the camera, horizontal photo, portrait. Unhappy preschooler with toothache

Every parent hates to see their child in pain. When your son or daughter wakes up with a constant toothache, we can help you provide the relief they need. By scheduling an emergency appointment, we can inspect their tooth to determine if an infection is present. When this is the case, we can perform an alternative to root canal therapy called a pulpotomy. Unlike the traditional procedure, this treatment leaves the healthy portions of your child’s pulp and nerve while removing their bacterial infection.

At your Shirley, NY pediatric dentist and orthodontist, we offer emergency services to treat your child’s dental needs outside of routine checkups. While their preventive care is critical to maintaining a healthy mouth, when more serious problems take hold, they require an immediate response. By removing their tooth infection, we can stop your child’s inflammatory response that pushes against their sensitive nerves to cause painful aches. By learning about the benefits of endodontic treatment, you can see how we can be of use in your time of need!

When A Child’s Tooth Becomes Infected

When teeth are strong, they enjoy a robust protective enamel layer that takes the force of their bite and prevents oral bacteria from accessing more sensitive areas. A child’s tooth is no different and is susceptible to injury or decay like their parents. For this reason, you should let us know if your child chips one of their teeth. We provide restorative services to rebuild teeth and prevent the higher risk of decay or infection that presents with exposed dentin and pulp. Infections can only occur when the bacteria that live inside the mouth can bypass the outer wall and enter the pulp chamber within. Let us know if your child experiences an injury or feels an ache that needs our attention.

Performing An Alternative To Root Canal Therapy

Pulpotomies approach the same goal as root canal therapy, preserving and restoring an infected tooth, while allowing your child to keep their remaining healthy pulp material. Removing infection is critical because left alone, bacteria risk spreading to other parts of the body and causing even greater harm. To provide a more comfortable experience, we will apply a local anesthetic to the affected area before beginning the removal procedure. By restoring their tooth, we can maintain your child’s bite so that their jaw can grow properly without a missing tooth. We prefer allowing the tooth to fall out naturally on its schedule and not extract it to treat the infection.

Speak With Your Shirley, NY, Orthodontist and Pediatric Dentist About Endodontic Treatment For Your Child’s Tooth Infection

If your child experiences a painful toothache, let us know so we can provide relief. To learn more about removing oral bacteria with a pulpotomy, then contact Shirley Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry in Shirley, NY, by calling (631) 399-1600.