Because primary teeth are so important, the pediatric dentists at Brighton Kids Smile recommend that these teeth be kept intact instead of being prematurely extracted. It is for this reason that root canal therapy (pulpatomy) for kids is a potential option for saving a baby tooth that is affected by extensive decay.
The need for root canal therapy (pulpatomy) is often indicated if a tooth is giving your child pain, is sensitive to different temperatures, or if it is chipped or cracked with the pulp already exposed. When this happens, the pulp becomes damaged beyond simple medication or surface repair. As a result, the infected pulp is removed through root canal therapy (pulpatomy) and a crown is placed on the tooth, allowing it to be strong enough so the tooth can remain in the child’s mouth until the permanent tooth erupts.
For children, a pulpatomy is done, where only the infected pulp chamber is removed. For the most part, the dentists in Brighton Kids Smile do not need to use special instruments to remove the pulp from roots of the tooth since only the surface nerve structure in the chamber is removed. This makes the root canal therapy procedure much faster and a lot less painful for children. Also, after the root canal therapy - pulpatomy - is completed, a baby crown is placed on the tooth right away to protect the weakened tooth.
Since the material we use in Brighton Kids Smile for a baby tooth root canal therapy is completely biocompatible, it will not negatively affect the incoming permanent tooth. Rather, the tooth and crown will get loose in its own time and will fall out like all other baby teeth.
Since the affected nerves of the tooth are removed, your child should have very minimal pain after the root canal therapy treatment. At Brighton Kids Smile, we offer nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, to our patients in order to have them feel more at ease and calm during their treatments. During the treatment itself, the tooth is completely numbed using local anesthesia. However, it is common to have sensitivity to the crown or to any dental procedure for the first two weeks. During this time, it is important to continue brushing, particularly around the gums of the tooth, to keep them from becoming inflamed. If excessive pain or irritation is experienced, have the child brought to the dental office for a re-evaluation.
