Suffolk Does My Child Need a Root Canal

Does My Child Need a Baby Root CanalSuffolk, VA

At Fun Park Pediatric Dentistry, we are regularly asked, "My child's tooth hurts, doe he need to have a baby root canal?" The answer varies on a case-by-case basis. Toothaches can be terribly inconvenient, making it difficult to eat, speak or even function. As a Pediatric dental clinic we realize that a common toothache is something most people can live with until it suddenly turns a corner and becomes unbearable. The key is to visit our dental office at that initial stage before your child reaches the point of severe discomfort. This will give your child the largest amount of options for how to treat the problem. To schedule an appointment with our Pediatric dental office, call (757) 767-2767.

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If your child's tooth hurts, you may be wondering if a root canal is the answer. The best answer to give without a proper inspection is – not necessarily. There are several reasons for why your child's tooth is hurting, including :

  • Food is stuck in between the teeth or in between the ridges on the chewing surfaces of the teeth
  • Your child could have a cavity
  • Your child’s tooth could have been chipped or cracked
  • Your child may be suffering from enamel erosion

In these scenarios, we can treat the problem without needing to perform a pulpotomy/pulpectomy (baby root canal). For example, we can clean your child's teeth and remove any food particles causing discomfort. If you child has a cavity, we can remove the decay and place a filling at Fun Park Pediatric Dentistry. This is done quickly and is far less invasive than a pulpotomy/pulpectomy. Simultaneously, if your child's tooth is chipped or cracked, we can restore it. If your child is dealing with erosion, Icon Infiltration may be required to protect your child's teeth. As a Pediatric dentist, we restore teeth on a daily basis and have several ways of doing so.

However, there are many times where a pulpotomy is the right treatment option, so to answer the question, "My child's tooth hurts, does he need to have a baby root canal?" we must also look at the surrounding circumstances.

How long has your child’s tooth been hurting?

Upon visiting our dental office in Suffolk, VA, we need to know how long your child has been dealing with this issue. We also need to know if the pain came on suddenly or if it has built up over time. This will help us in determining what the source of the discomfort is and what our treatment plan should be.

What level of pain is your child in?

At Fun Park Pediatric Dentistry, we regularly ask patients about their pain and whether or not it is manageable. If it is only a slight discomfort, your child can simply visit our Suffolk dental practice and have tooth decay removed. In many cases, a toothache is caused by a cavity that can be treated without the need for a root canal. However a toth decay with close proximity to the pulp of the tooth will more likely need a pulpotomy (baby root canal).

Check out what others are saying about our pediatric dental services on Yelp: Does My Child Need a Root Canal Suffolk

When to Call Our Emergency Dentist Office

If your child has any of these symptoms, you should call our emergency dentist office at 757-767-2767 and schedule an appointment for your child to be seen right away.

  • Your child’s face is swollen. In this scenario, your child could have a severe infection and require immediate attention. Please call us.
  • Your child is having difficulty swallowing. In this case, your child needs to be treated by our emergency dentist office immediately. Do not delay or take any chances with this particular symptom. It is possible to develop a dental abscess, an infection that can spread from your root canal to the floor of your mouth and even into your neck, requiring urgent care.

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