It can break your heart to see your child in pain. If they complain about an ache in one of their teeth, it is important to visit the dentist as soon as possible. This symptom typically implies a bacterial treatment that lies inside the pulp of the tooth. That is why we offer emergency visits outside of standard checkups to resolve a child’s pain and help them preserve their smiles. At this age, we can perform a procedure called a pulpotomy that preserves the healthy portion of your child’s pulp. While traditional root canal therapy removes the entirety of the pulp structure, your child’s tooth will continue to live after treating their bacterial infection.
At your Shirley, NY, pediatric dentist and orthodontist, we help our little patients preserve their developing smiles. This is why we do not typically recommend removing their baby teeth when they have symptoms of decay or infection. Because their jaws are still growing, maintaining their total bite is crucial to developing their healthy oral structures. After treating the immediate concern, we can review what behaviors may have contributed to the infection and provide advice on preventive strategies to lower the risk of future oral harm.
How Do Children Develop Tooth Infections?
When a tooth is healthy, its protective outer layer takes hundreds of pounds of force from its bite and keeps oral threats away from its sensitive inner tissue. Unfortunately, when physical trauma or decay penetrates the enamel layer, oral bacteria can create cavities and access the inner pulp area. This is why it is so important to report any injuries as soon as they occur to your dentist. A chip in your son or daughter’s tooth may seem cosmetic, but any event that breaks this protective seal risks significant harm down the line.
Providing Endodontic Treatment For A Child
A traditional root canal procedure removes the entirety of the tooth’s nerve and living pulp to ensure that all bacteria living in the chamber are treated. When a child’s tooth is infected, we can provide an alternative called pulpotomy, that preserves the healthy remaining portion of the pulp. By removing the infection, your child’s inflammatory response ends. As the tissues inside stop swelling, so does the painful pressure pushing up against their tooth’s nerve. Because this procedure permanently alters the outer surface of the tooth, we will seal it back by placing a dental crown.
Speak With Your Shirley, NY, Orthodontist and Pediatric Dentist About Endodontic Treatment For Your Child’s Tooth Infection
We provide emergency care for children who experience painful tooth infections. To find out more about removing oral bacteria with a pulpotomy, then contact Shirley Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry in Shirley, NY, by calling (631) 399-1600.
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