At Cohen Family Smiles, we are committed to preserving your child’s natural teeth whenever possible. When decay or injury affects a baby tooth’s nerve, baby root canal therapy (also called pulpotomy or pulpectomy) is a safe and effective treatment to save the tooth and prevent premature tooth loss.
Why Baby Root Canal Therapy is Needed
A cavity involving the nerve, or pulp, of a tooth may cause excruciating pain for your child. Although painkillers like ibuprofen may temporarily relieve discomfort, the pain will recur until the underlying infection is treated. When the nerve is infected, treatment is essential to restore your child’s oral health.
Pediatric root canal therapy is designed to maintain the integrity of the affected tooth to prevent premature loss. Early loss of back teeth (primary molars) can lead to problems with the eruption and alignment of adult teeth. Proper root canal therapy helps avoid difficulties such as crooked or impacted permanent teeth.
Dental caries (cavities) and traumatic injury are the main reasons children require pulp therapy. Due to the loss of tooth structure in teeth needing root canal therapy, full coverage restorations such as pediatric crowns are often necessary to protect the tooth.
What is Baby Root Canal Therapy?
Baby root canal therapy involves removing the infected or damaged pulp from a baby tooth while preserving the remaining healthy tooth structure. This treatment helps alleviate pain, eliminates infection, and maintains the tooth’s function until it naturally falls out and is replaced by the adult tooth.
Gentle and Child-Friendly Care at Cohen Family Smiles
Our caring team in Yorktown Heights, NY, uses gentle techniques and advanced pediatric dental technology to ensure your child’s root canal therapy is comfortable and successful.
Frequently Asked Questions about Baby Root Canal Therapy
Q1: Is baby root canal therapy painful?
A: The procedure is done under local anesthesia to minimize discomfort, and most children tolerate it well.
Q2: How long does a baby tooth treated with root canal therapy last?
A: The treated tooth usually lasts until it naturally falls out to make way for the adult tooth.