Painless root canal treatment in children and adults

Root canal therapy is a procedure used to repair and save teeth that are severely decayed or infected. This is a root canal treatment that removes the nerve and pulp, cleans the area inside the tooth, and seals it with a special material. Without proper and timely root canal treatment for children and adults, the tissue around the tooth can become infected and abscessed, creating a difficult situation.

No one wants to be told that they need an urgent root canal treatment. But, even worse, no one wants to hear that their child needs a root canal. But is a root canal the most severe and painful type of dental procedure?

Actually, no. Root canal treatment is not nearly as scary as many people think. Modern dental techniques have significantly reduced the pain associated with it. However, there are still many differences between root canal treatment for adults and children.

What are root canals?

A root canal, also called root canal therapy, is essentially a last resort procedure to save a tooth that has been infected. A cavity, crack, or other dental problem can compromise your oral health.

Sometimes the nerve inside the tooth is either dead or has an abscess. Basically, without a root canal, the tooth is so damaged that it may need to be extracted.

When the nerve tissue of the tooth, or pulp, is damaged, the pulp area of ​​the tooth is damaged and bacteria begin to multiply. This allows bacteria and other decay-causing agents to grow and cause an abscess or infection.

During a root canal, the inside of the tooth is thoroughly cleaned. The nerves and pulp are completely removed. When this treatment is complete, the tooth no longer has any active nerves. However, the tooth itself can now remain in the mouth without causing pain or spreading infection.

Why are root canals preferable to extractions?

Extracting teeth and replacing them with dental implants is usually avoided at all costs. Each tooth helps support the surrounding teeth. Removing just one tooth can negatively impact your entire mouth and jaw.

If a tooth is extracted, the remaining teeth can tilt inward, the open socket can become infected, and other problems can occur. Plus, replacing a tooth with a dental implant can be very expensive for some people. In general, root canals are the preferred alternative to tooth extractions and other procedures.

Should children have their teeth extracted for root canals?

Dentists in Hamilton almost always try to avoid extracting teeth in adults. But what about children? After all, children’s teeth are not permanent. They will eventually fall out when they are replaced by permanent teeth. Should an infected baby tooth be allowed to fall out naturally?

Generally, no. Baby teeth play an important role in the development of permanent teeth. They act as guides for the permanent teeth below. If a baby tooth falls out too early, the permanent tooth will erupt incorrectly. This can lead to crooked and malformed permanent teeth.

Even worse, if a baby tooth is missing, the surrounding teeth are likely to shift into the space. When the permanent teeth try to erupt, they get stuck under these displaced baby teeth. This can lead to serious orthodontic problems.

When is root canal treatment necessary for a child?

Infected baby teeth cannot be simply pulled out. At the same time, they cannot be allowed to remain in the mouth. Cavities can quickly spread to surrounding teeth. Baby teeth are far more vulnerable to decay than adult teeth.

A root canal is the best way to treat an infection. More importantly, a root canal is the only way to ensure that the infection does not return.

What role do antibiotics play in a root canal?

Antibiotics are usually given to the patient a few days before a root canal. This helps to clear out the bacteria around the inflamed gum tissue. Once these bacteria are removed, the dentist will have more time and more freedom to apply anesthesia, which will significantly reduce the patient’s level of pain and discomfort.

Root canals have a bad reputation because sometimes, emergency procedures must be performed without a course of antibiotics. Anesthetic doesn’t work very well on inflamed tissue, which makes the procedure much more painful. Fortunately, most root canals in children don’t require emergency procedures.

How is root canal treatment performed painlessly in children?

Root canal procedures for children and adults are very similar, but they also have some very important differences. Both children and adults usually require a pulpotomy.

In this procedure, the tooth is numbed and the infected material inside is removed. An adult tooth is then filled, which provides long-term stability to the tooth. But baby teeth naturally fall out after a while, so they usually aren’t filled. Instead, the tooth is secured with a cap or crown. This holds the baby tooth firmly in place enough to function as a permanent tooth.