Shirley, NY, Tooth Infection

Hearing that your young child has a tooth infection can be tough. As a parent, you do everything in your power to provide for your little one’s comfort, but dental pain can come on suddenly and intensely. By scheduling an emergency appointment for your child, we can take an X-ray of their problem tooth to determine if an infection is present. Without treatment, bacteria could travel to other parts of their body, so it is paramount they receive care right away! With the aid of modern endodontics, we can perform a pulpotomy procedure that preserves the healthy portion of a child’s pulp. Compared to a traditional root canal, this method provides the same disease-combatting efforts while maintaining more of their healthy material.

At your Shirley, NY, pediatric dentist and orthodontist, we know that emergencies can happen when you least expect them. That is why we make ourselves available to see your little one shortly after contacting our office. While regular checkups and cleanings can lower a young one’s risk for tooth infection, emergency endodontic care is necessary to preserve little smiles when bacteria take hold. By preserving a child’s tooth, we maintain their bite until the natural time for the tooth to fall out. This allows the jaw to grow properly instead of pulling the tooth early.

How Your Child Receives A Tooth Infection

When a child’s tooth is healthy, the enamel layer on its outside protects the sensitive inner layers from bacteria that live within the mouth. This strongest material in the human body protects kids’ bites as they chew every day. However, any event that damages the seal of this protective layer can expose the tooth to infection. This is why we recommend reporting any physical dental injury, no matter how minor they appear as soon as they occur. We can inspect your little one’s teeth to determine if they require repair with a filling or crown.

Performing Your Child’s Pulpotomy

If your child requires endodontic therapy, we suggest performing a pulpotomy to preserve as much healthy material as possible. This procedure requires entering the inside portion of the tooth to remove all decaying and foreign material. When the infection is gone, their body’s inflammatory response subsides, lessening pressure against sensitive dental nerves. This provides pain relief while the tooth heals. Because this procedure permanently alters the structure of the tooth, we will place a restoration to reseal the tooth and support your little one’s bite.

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

If your child complains of a consistent toothache, do not wait to seek care. To find out more about treating infections with a pulpotomy, contact Shirley Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry in Shirley, NY, by calling (631) 399-1600.