Root Canals for Kids – Why Are They Performed?
Posted on August 10th, 2023 | Christopher Neal
If you’ve ever been to the dentist, you’ve probably heard of a root canal. Root canals are designed to restore health and function to severely damaged teeth.
Root canals are performed when a filling isn’t enough to repair a tooth that has suffered an injury or decay. Root canals eliminate the need for tooth extraction and instead restore strength to compromised teeth. They’re typically performed on adult teeth, but many dentists also perform root canals on kids.
Even though baby teeth fall out eventually, they’re still important to your child’s oral development. Continue reading to learn why your children’s dentist in Palos Heights might recommend root canal treatment to save your child’s tooth.
Why Are Baby Teeth Important?
Baby teeth, also called primary teeth, act as placeholders for adult teeth. If they become damaged or fall out before they’re ready, permanent teeth can come in crooked or misaligned. Baby teeth also allow children to speak and chew properly, ensuring proper bite development, nutrition, and lowering the risk of gum disease.
Signs Your Kid Needs A Root Canal
A root canal for a kid might sound like an extreme measure. However, they can actually save you a lot of money on invasive dental care in the future. By preserving the health of baby teeth, you also protect your child’s future permanent teeth.
Some signs your child might need a root canal procedure include the following:
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Tooth Pain
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Tooth Sensitivity (often to heat or cold)
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Gum Swelling, Redness, or Tenderness
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Bad Breath
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Dental Abscess (can manifest in the form of a bump on the gum tissue)
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Swollen or Tender Lymph Nodes
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General Signs of Infection
If you notice any of these signs, it’s crucial that you contact a trusted pediatric dentist as soon as possible. At Chicago KiDDS Pediatric Dentistry, when you bring your child in for a dental exam, we’ll locate the source of any present dental issues. We will also recommend the most conservative treatment options available to address the problem.
Kids’ Root Canal Procedures
Root canals involve removing decayed or inflamed tooth material, including dental pulp, the innermost layer of teeth. Children’s root canals are slightly less invasive than adult root canals.
The two types of root canal procedures often performed on baby teeth include the pulpotomy and pulpectomy.
With a pulpotomy, any damaged or diseased tooth material is removed. However, if the tooth still has healthy roots, the root canals are not cleaned out. Instead, the tooth is filled with an antibacterial agent to protect the roots.
A pulpectomy is performed when a tooth’s roots are inflamed or infected. This means when the diseased pulp is removed, the root canals are also cleaned out. They are then filled with a special material that can be absorbed by the body over time. This way, when a permanent tooth is ready to emerge, the baby tooth’s roots won’t be in the way.
Preventing Root Canals
The best way to prevent tooth decay is to make sure your child maintains good oral hygiene. This means brushing and flossing twice a day and scheduling regular dental check-ups. It’s also wise to encourage your child to avoid food and drinks that are high in sugar whenever possible.
Contact Chicago KiDDS Pediatric Dentistry for Restorative Dental Care
If you’re concerned your child has a cavity that might require a root canal, contact Chicago KiDDS Pediatric Dentistry today. We’re here to ensure your child’s smile is protected at every stage of their oral development.
