Shirley, NY, Tooth Infection

It is quite upsetting when your child has a toothache. The extreme pain can bring their day to a complete halt. Concentrating on school or play becomes nearly impossible with the throbbing pain ceasing to end. If this condition lasts more than a day, call your local dentist for an emergency appointment right away. Chronic toothaches are a common symptom of dangerous infections that without treatment, could enter other portions of the body through the bloodstream. This can happen when a tooth injury breaks the protective seal of your child’s enamel. Fortunately, modern dentistry provides techniques for preserving a tooth when it experiences an infection. This can preserve the inner pulp and prevent the need for an untimely extraction. Because your child’s jaw is still forming, we must maintain all of their baby teeth until the natural time for them to fall out arrives. Called pulpotomy, this endodontic therapy removes infected material while resealing the top portion of the tooth.

At your Shirley, NY, pediatric dentist and orthodontist, we are standing by to provide comfort whenever children experience dental pain. That means seeing your little one as soon as we can when you request an emergency visit. After performing your child’s pulpotomy, we will review their oral health to determine areas that could use improvement. By paying close attention to their hygiene, we can help preserve your child’s smile as they grow into adolescence!

How Teeth Become Infected

How do dental infections affect kids? When a tooth is healthy, the enamel portion on its outer layer protects its inside from the pressure of your child’s bite. However, any physical injury or chemical decay process that wears down the tooth exposes it to bacteria within their mouths. Failing to practice rigorous hygiene can build up plaque and tartar deposits that release an acidic byproduct as they feed on debris from a child’s diet. By inspecting your little one’s smile regularly, we can suggest dental fillings or crowns to reseal damaged enamel whenever we discover an injury.

Providing Endodontic Therapy For Kids

After taking an X-ray of your child’s tooth, we will know if they have an infection. We can perform a pulpotomy to remove the infection while preserving as much healthy material as possible. While a root canal removes the entire dental nerve and pulp, a pulpotomy leaves the non-decay portions of the tooth. As the body’s inflammatory process recedes, your child’s pain resolves, leading to comfort. To complete the procedure, we will provide a seal that restores the visible portion of your child’s tooth.

Talk To 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, contact Shirley Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry in Shirley, NY, by calling (631) 399-1600.