Pediatric Root Canal Maybe you already know an endodontist can perform root canal surgery on adults, but what about children? Perhaps you have recently been told that your child may need a root canal. On the other hand, maybe you are simply curious about this procedure and want to understand more about it and how we perform it. Here at Duggan Endodontics, we are happy to help you learn more.Pediatric Endodontics: Gentle Care for Young PatientsWhen it comes to dental care, children need quite delicate care as compared to adults. At Duggan Endodontics, our pediatric endodontics services are tailored to help you get the best care for your child. Our services focus on diagnosing and treating dental pulp issues in the teeth of children. It involves procedures like pulpectomies and pulpotomies to manage infections or injuries, ensuring the health and development of the teeth. Special techniques are used to handle the unique dental anatomy and behavior of children, emphasizing comfort and long-term oral health. What is a Root Canal?It is common for people inside the dentistry field to call root canals endodontic treatment. Endodontics is the part of dentistry that specializes in the tooth pulp, which is the part of the tooth that is inside it. Even if a dentist can perform root canal procedures, it is less common. Endodontists are dental specialists trained and qualified to perform root canal procedures. If you or your child needs a root canal, then it means there is bacteria or dead tissue in the tooth pulp. It is better to have a root canal as soon as you need it. Leaving it untreated can lead to severe complications, and specialists might have to extract the tooth. Is There Any Way to Prevent My Child Getting a Root Canal?Most of the time, someone will need a root canal when leaving tooth decay untreated. Tooth decay appears because of bacteria, eating too many sugars or refined carbohydrates, and most importantly, lack of adequate oral hygiene. The best way to prevent root canals in your child is by teaching good oral hygiene. You can do this by teaching your child how to brush and floss. Visiting the dentist from an early age is also good since it helps establish a good relationship between health personnel and the child. Brushing and flossing two times a day helps avoid bacteria and bad breath. Besides, since bacteria are the ones that cause tooth decay, by brushing you are avoiding tooth decay and thus root canal procedures. Avoid hard types of candy. Hard candy can cause cracks or chipped teeth - another risk factor for developing tooth decay. You might not see the cracks if they are too little, but those cracks can let bacteria in and cause infections. If your child does sports, you can consider having them wear a mouthguard. Your child can fall and chip their tooth. Again, a risk factor for tooth decay. Some children even need mouthguards for sleeping since they grind their teeth while sleeping. You need to be aware of teeth grinding in your child. Are There Any Early Signs My Child May Need a Root Canal?Sometimes your child may not have any symptoms. However, there are evident symptoms like unexplained pain, sudden mobility of a tooth, sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures, and swelling or redness around a tooth or gums. Remember, do not wait if your child has tooth pain. Sometimes that is the only symptom they will have, and it can be a sign of something more severe. If your child has any of these symptoms or you have any questions, call us at (512)-380-0777 today. |
