It is unfortunately sometimes necessary for a dentist to perform a child root canal. The tooth that needs root canal treatment may even be a baby tooth. A root canal on a baby tooth may seem odd to many people because the baby tooth is not permanent and will eventually fall out. They may feel that a tooth extraction would make the most sense. But baby teeth are important because they hold the place for the adult teeth that have yet come in. Depending on the age of the child and a number of other factors, the dentist may feel it is necessary for root canal therapy.
If an adult tooth is affected the need for a child root canal is even greater. If the tooth is extracted the gap will need to be filled. Each dental restoration that can be used has disadvantages, especially for a child. It is important to get a root canal because the pulp contains the nerve tissue and the blood vessels of the tooth. Yet what is amazing is the fact that a fully developed tooth can live without the pulp. Once the pulp is removed, the tooth is actually nourished by the gums.
When it comes to the actual child root canal procedure there are two types used, depending on the age of the patient, a pulpotomy and a pulpectomy. A pulpotomy root canal is designed to preserve the vitality of the pulp within the root of the tooth. With a pulpotomy, the healthy tissue inside of the root is left alone and only the diseased pulp tissue within the crown of the tooth is removed. The space inside of the treated crown is then filled with a healing agent. Then a dental crown is fixed on top of the tooth as with normal root canals. In a pulpectomy, the diseased tissue is completely removed from the inside of the crown and root and a resorbable material is placed in the root.
While many people may still have some fear about a child root canal, the alternatives are not much better. If you have a tooth extraction you must replace the gap left behind with a bridge, dental partial or dental implant. These can be expensive procedures and each one has a number of potential drawbacks. A bridge can over-stress the adjacent teeth causing failure. Partials can create problems for your gums and implants, while strong and long lasting, are expensive and not everyone is a candidate. Our dentists are dedicated to their patients' good health and well being and you are welcome to join our family of patients. If you would like to make a free dental consultation with Atlanta Dentist, Dr. Mark Allan Padolsky or with our root canal dentist, Dr/ Jeffrey Stephen Smith, call 404-874-7428.
