If an adult sees a dentist for an infected tooth, they will likely offer relief with a root canal procedure. But what about when a child has a dental infection? When this happens, your Shirley, NY, pediatric dentist and orthodontist could offer relief for little smiles with a root canal alternative known as a pulpotomy.
The Presence of an Infection
An infection could occur when a cavity remains untreated, or due to a serious injury to the tooth. A tooth becomes infected when harmful bacteria make contact with the inner pulp, the nerve center of each tooth. This causes painful symptoms and without treatment, could effectively cause the tooth to die, allowing infection to reach other parts of the smile. The tooth may need to be treated. While baby teeth do fall out, they do so at specific times, and losing one early could increase the risk of misalignment, as teeth could fit due to the unexpected gap, altering how permanent teeth erupt.
Warning signs could include toothaches that last for days, pain when biting down or chewing, or aches in the jaw and face. Headaches could occur too, as could swelling near the tooth and a discharge from it. Don’t ignore these potential symptoms, bring your child in right away for an exam!
The Root Canal for Kids
The pulpotomy involves our team opening the tooth to remove the infected parts of the interior tissues. Once we do, we can add a medicated filling to the interior of the tooth. For some, this completes the process while others may need us to cap the tooth with a dental crown. The crown will be custom-made to not only look natural and blend with the tooth, but also handle daily bite forces and pressures too, protecting the tooth from decay and reinfection.
Ensuring Your Child is Comfortable
We always take steps to ensure your child is comfortable and relaxed throughout the process, even if your little one has dental anxiety or special needs that could complicate treatment. We could numb the area directly with a local anesthetic, and we also have sedation to help kids reach a deep state of calm and relaxation, often with no memory of the procedure at all.
If you have any questions about how our team will treat an infected tooth, or if you want to bring your little one in for a visit, then contact our team today to learn more and get started right away!
Root Canals for Infected Teeth in Shirley, NY
By treating the infected tooth with a pulpotomy, we can stop discomfort and keep little smiles whole. To find out more about us, call Shirley Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry in Shirley, NY at 631.399.1600 today.
Recent Comments