Children’s Root Canals
May 16, 2019
Even baby teeth can become infected. When the core of your child’s tooth is diseased or injured, the entire tooth does not need to be extracted. Dr. Carolyn B. Cromwell recommends pulpotomy for her Avon, OH, patients. A pulpotomy is a treatment, like a root canal, which saves the tooth but removes the infection and tooth pain.
What is a Pulpotomy?
The pulp is at the core of the tooth. The core contains nerves, connective tissue, and blood vessels. With a pulpotomy, the infected or injured pulp may be removed and yet the tooth structure can be kept in place. This is achieved in several steps:
- The diseased pulp is removed.
- An anti-bacterial is placed to prevent any further infection.
- The remaining tooth structure is covered with a protective stainless steel crown.
What is the Difference between a Pulpotomy and a Pulpectomy?
A pulpectomy is performed when the infection has spread to the root canals of the baby teeth. In this case, the entire pulp is removed from the root and the crown. The canals are flushed out to ensure that there are no bacteria present and then filled with a dental packing material. A crown is placed over the teeth to protect the structure.
How Will a Pulpotomy Affect My Child?
Dr. Cromwell takes great care to alleviate any anxiety your child may feel and to make sure that the treatment site is numbed with local anesthetic. If necessary, she also offers various, safe and effective sedation methods for children. This assures that your child will be relaxed and comfortable throughout the procedure.
After the pulpotomy, Dr. Cromwell recommends a soft food diet and plenty of rest, with the addition of warm salt water rinses to stave off infection. Within 24 hours, your child should be feeling back to normal.
Does your child have infected baby teeth? You can trust Dr. Cromwell to give the highest quality care to your little ones. Schedule a consultation for a pulpotomy in Avon, OH, and learn whether this treatment is right for your child.