How We Can Save Your Child’s Teeth with a Pediatric Root Canal

We recommend pediatric root canals for children's teeth that have become vulnerable or exposed. Some parents may question whether this treatment is necessary for their child's baby and adult teeth, but the answer is clear—it is a yes. This guide aims to explain in more detail.

What is a pediatric root canal?

Pediatric root canals are often the last resort for saving a natural tooth. Their primary aim is to remove infected or diseased pulp. The pulp, or pulp chamber, houses the nerves and connective tissue within the tooth. Simply put, it is the portion that keeps the tooth alive.

The pediatric root canal process

The pediatric root canal process is relatively simple. The pediatric dentist numbs the area surrounding the tooth so the child feels no pain. They then remove all traces of decay or brittle structure leading to the pulp chamber. Once accessed, the entire pulp is removed and replaced with gutta-percha, a sterile sealant. The pediatric dentist will then protect the tooth and restore its appearance and function with a crown (cap).

Conditions that warrant a pediatric root canal

The most common condition that requires a pediatric root canal is a cavity. Cavities result from tooth decay, which is caused by plaque, a sticky bacteria that can harden into tartar if not thoroughly removed at least twice a day. If a cavity is detected early, the pediatric dentist can typically treat it with a filling. However, if the cavity becomes severe and reaches the pulp chamber, a pediatric root canal is necessary to save the tooth.

Other conditions that warrant a pediatric root canal are infection and fractures. Infections can cause pain and compromise the entire tooth. Once the pulp chamber becomes infected, it can spread throughout the entire tooth and kill it, leading to loss. Likewise, a fracture (broken tooth) can expose the pulp chamber, causing the child extreme pain and usher in bacteria, eventually leading to an infection.

The importance of saving natural baby teeth

It is a common misconception that saving baby teeth is less important than adult ones. However, this could not be further from the truth. Baby teeth are a large part of a child's physical development. Not only are they precursors for the adult teeth, creating a clear path for them to later erupt when the body decides, but they also help frame the child's musculoskeletal system as the develop. When a tooth is lost prematurely and does not have a replacement in a timely manner, the gum tissue and underlying jawbone will degenerate. This can affect how the jawbone develops as it adjusts to the missing portion.

Furthermore, as children age and learn to pronounce words, they rely on their teeth. If a tooth is lost prematurely in the right location, it can cause the child to develop a speech impediment. When the adult tooth grows in, even if it manages to do so in alignment with the rest of the teeth, the child may keep their speech impediment because that is how they originally learned their words.