Why are root canals performed on baby teeth?
If your child’s dentist has recommended root canal treatment, you might be asking why. After all, root canal treatment is a way of saving a tooth with bacterial infection or inflammation by removing the pulp in the center of the tooth. Since your child’s primary (baby) teeth will eventually come out on their own, you might wonder what the point is of trying to save one that is at risk of being lost prematurely.
The untimely loss of baby teeth can interfere with chewing, speech development, and, most importantly, the alignment of newly developing permanent teeth. Here’s why: Each baby tooth holds the space open for the permanent tooth that will emerge behind it, and all teeth do not fall out at the same time. If there’s a gap that forms prematurely, the remaining teeth will shift position to fill it. And that can affect the ultimate alignment of permanent teeth.
Symptoms & Diagnosis
In the initial clinical exam, the dentist will review your child’s complete medical history because systemic (general) disease may require special treatment. He/she will also assess the pain. If it happens in response to stimuli, like hot or cold, sweet or acidic foods and beverages, or impact with another tooth, there are a number of possible causes—not all of which would require root canal treatment. But spontaneous (unprovoked), constant, throbbing pain typically indicates extensive pulp damage. Infection can travel out of the root tip and into the surrounding jawbone, possibly forming an abscess, and trigger secondary pain.
Diagnostic x-rays are essential to visualize what’s happening inside the tooth below the gum line.
What happens during a root canal?
Your child’s dental provider will insert tools into the root canals. The tools will remove the diseased pulp from the tooth with cleaning fluids. An x-ray may be taken to check for more pulp to remove. The provider will clean any remaining pulp from the root canal. After all of the pulp is removed, he or she will clean the open root canal with germ-killing liquid. The root canal will be dried and a filling will be put inside your child’s tooth root.
The dental provider will cover your child’s tooth with a temporary or permanent crown. He or she may fill the root with a steroid paste to relieve any swelling in the root canal.
What happens after a root canal?
Your child may have some pain after the procedure. This is normal and should go away in a few hours. The dental provider may prescribe pain medicine or recommend an over-the-counter pain medicine, such as an NSAID. Ask your child’s provider when your child can eat and drink again. Ask about any special instructions for caring for your child’s tooth after a root canal. If a temporary crown is used, the provider will replace it with a permanent crown about 1 week later.
As is typical of other types of medical problems, the optimal approach is to prevent pulp damage by helping children keep their teeth healthy and protected. That starts with good dental hygiene practices.