3 Signs Your Child Needs a Baby Root Canal

Baby teeth aren’t permanent, but they’re still very important! They play a vital role in your child’s oral healthcare development — they make space for adult teeth to grow in properly and allow your child to eat and talk normally. Just like adult teeth, baby teeth can become infected with cavities if not consistently cleaned. If cavities are left untreated, the infection can spread through the tooth and into the roots. Once this occurs, the best option is to perform a baby root canal. At Pleasanton Children’s Dentistry and Braces, we perform baby root canals when necessary. Here are three signs you should look out for if your child needs a baby root canal.

Pain, Swelling, and Inflammation

If your child is experiencing extreme tooth pain, it’s time to schedule an appointment with our Pleasanton office. Likewise, swelling and inflammation, especially near the infected tooth, are common when the infection spreads to the root. Your child also might experience a fever or swollen lymph nodes, which are telltale signs of an infection.

Looseness of Tooth

If your child has a loose or wiggly tooth when they are not at the age or stage of losing their baby teeth, they might be experiencing decay.

Sensitivity

If your child complains about feeling tooth sensitivity when consuming hot or cold foods and beverages, it may be a sign that their tooth is infected and requires special attention.

Baby Root Canal Procedure

If your child requires a root canal, don’t fret! It’s a very safe and pain-free procedure. Our dental team uses local anesthesia to help numb the area around the tooth so your child won’t feel any discomfort during the process. We also offer additional sedation options in case they have any dental anxiety. During a baby root canal, the dentist will drill into the tooth and flush out any infected tissue. They will then fill the tooth with a material called gutta-percha to act as replacement root tissue. Finally, your child’s tooth will be capped with a crown to protect the integrity of the baby tooth and restore it to a normal size and shape.

Baby Root Canals in Pleasanton, TX

We want our patients to avoid developing infections in the first place, so remember to help your child maintain a consistent oral healthcare schedule and encourage them to brush their teeth twice a day. Visiting the dentist twice a year is an important part of prevention. We offer a full suite of preventive and restorative treatments at Pleasanton Children’s Dentistry and Braces to give your child the care they need. Give us a call at 830-542-4221 or contact us online to schedule an appointment!

Categorised in: Oral Health, Preventive Dental Care, Restorative Dental Care

This post was written by Pleasanton Children’s Dentistry & Braces