Root Canal Treatment for Children in Lansing, Michigan: Why Saving Baby Teeth Matters
Root canal treatment is a safe and effective way to stop many kinds of tooth pain and prevent a tooth from being lost. If a root canal is recommended for your young child at Schaefer Dental Group, you might wonder why, since the baby tooth is going to fall out anyway.
While primary (baby) teeth are naturally shed between the ages of 6 and 12 years, there are critical reasons for saving them for as long as possible with treatment, rather than simply extracting a damaged tooth:
-
Functionality: Primary teeth have the same functions as adult teeth. A missing tooth at any age can cause problems with a child’s speech and ability to eat properly.
-
Space Maintenance: Baby teeth serve as essential guides for the proper placement of the permanent teeth. Without them, permanent teeth tend to emerge in a crooked fashion, often becoming tilted or crowded due to inadequate space. This can lead to bite problems that may require extensive orthodontic treatment later on.
Saving the Tooth Is Always the Best Approach
The soft pulp inside the tooth is rich in blood vessels and nerves. Problems in this area are often signaled by tooth sensitivity and pain. When these symptoms occur, X-rays are used to confirm that the pulp is diseased or dying. Treatment is needed before an abscess or further infection can develop.
In severe cases, the tooth may need to be removed and a space maintainer installed. However, space maintainers often don’t fully restore the tooth’s functionality and must be constantly monitored. Whenever possible, your dentist in Lansing, Michigan prefers to use procedures to save the natural tooth, such as:
-
Indirect Pulp Treatment: If pulp damage is minimal, most of the decay (but not the pulp) is removed, an antibiotic is applied, and the tooth is sealed. This is an “indirect” treatment.
-
Pulpotomy (Partial Root Canal): If decay is limited to the upper portion of the pulp, the damaged part is removed, the remaining healthy portion is stabilized, and the tooth is disinfected and sealed. This time-tested “partial” root canal is often successful.
-
Pulpectomy (Full Root Canal): If the pulp tissue is infected throughout the entire tooth structure, a pulpectomy is needed, which involves removing all pulp tissue. The canals are disinfected, shaped, then filled and sealed. The key difference in children is that the sealant used is capable of being dissolved by the body. This allows the baby tooth’s roots to be naturally absorbed when the permanent tooth is ready to erupt, ensuring normal tooth development.
Preparing for Your Child’s Root Canal Treatment at Schaefer Dental Group
It is important to know that root canal therapy for a child generally causes little discomfort and is highly successful in relieving existing tooth pain. The dental team at Schaefer Dental Group is experienced in using anesthesia to block pain and calming the fears of young patients. While it’s understandable if you feel nervous, try not to let your child pick up on any anxiety. A calming voice and gentle touch can do much to relieve stress.
After a thorough examination, we will recommend the best treatment options for your child. A root canal is nothing to fear: Think of it as a treatment that may save your child from short-term tooth pain and potentially a lot of corrective dental work later on.