Why a Pediatric Dentist Uses a Pulpotomy to Save Baby Teeth

Taking your child to a family dentist is never a bad idea; however, younger children will do much better at a pediatric dentist or kids dentist in Roanoke.

At Parkway Pediatric Dentistry, we understand that you want to protect your child from unnecessary stress or medical procedures as the caring and nurturing parent that you are. Our expertise and specialized training can be very beneficial for your child’s oral health in the long run.

Pediatric dentistry or Dentistry for kids in Roanoke is a branch of dentistry that deals with examining and managing dental health in children from infancy through the teen years.

According to WebMD, a pediatric dentist specializes in diagnosing and treating dental problems in infants, children, and teenagers. Pediatric Dentists focus on the unique dental issues that can develop in the gums, teeth, and jaw as the body develops and grows.

Furthermore, our training in pediatrics teaches us how to help younger patients overcome the fear of meeting a dentist and make them feel welcome during our consultations.

What Types of Treatments Do Pediatric Dentists Provide?

Children are the most important people in their parents’ lives. They deserve a dentist who has a better understanding of how to communicate with them and is committed to their oral health.

Pediatric dentists provide complete oral health care that includes the following treatments:

• Infant oral health exams
• Preventive dental care including cleaning and fluoride treatments, as well as nutrition and diet recommendations
• Habit counseling ( pacifier use and thumb sucking)
• Early treatment for straightening teeth and correcting an improper bite (orthodontics/braces)
• Repair of tooth cavities
• Management of gum disease
• Care for dental injuries such as fractured, displaced, or knocked-out teeth

What Is A Pulpotomy?

In short, a pulpotomy is a procedure performed by a kid’s dentist in Roanoke to try and save a badly decayed tooth with infected pulp. Sometimes, some people refer to this procedure as a “baby root canal” because it usually involves baby teeth and especially molars.

Why Is A Pulpotomy Necessary?

Your child may need a Pulpotomy when the cause of the cavity is tooth decay. Decay is so deep that it becomes close to the pulp chamber. It irritates the tissue, which becomes inflamed and causes toothache.

Unfortunately, tooth decay is not uncommon. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the prevalence of some type of tooth decay in children aged 2-19 years old was 45.8%.

We rely on a pulpotomy to eliminate the infection. Such a procedure may only take 15-30 minutes in our office and is very simple, so your child won’t have to undergo a challenging experience.

We make sure to remove the infected pulp tissue from within the tooth, then clean and seal the structure to maintain its integrity. Some people call this a partial or baby root canal.

Pulpotomy Vs Pulpectomy Vs Root Canal

A pulpotomy removes infected tissue from a live tooth. Pulpectomies and root canals, however, are procedures that clear all soft tissues from within a tooth that is no longer alive due to considerable trauma or irreversible infection damage to the nerves.

A pulpectomy removes all of the nerves within the tooth and cleaning out the infection. Root canal treatment takes this a step further by filling the emptied and sterilized canals with a sealing material, ensuring the tooth’s structural integrity.

Why Are Baby Teeth So Important for a Pediatric Dentist?

Some people may wonder why we work so hard here at Parkway Pediatric Dentistry to preserve a baby tooth since it’s only going to fall out anyway.

The reality is those baby teeth are crucial in your child’s life.

Think about everything your teeth do for you during the day. You use your teeth to bite, chew and speak. And baby teeth are extra important because they lay the groundwork for how the permanent teeth will come in.

If your kid loses a baby tooth too early, it can throw off where and how the permanent teeth erupt.

Why Choose a Pediatric Dentist for Your Kid?

Pediatric Dentists or Kids dentists in Roanoke are different from general dentists because we know how to examine and treat children’s teeth in ways that make them comfortable.

In addition, pediatric dentists use specially designed equipment in offices that are arranged and decorated with children in mind.

A pediatric dentist offers a wide range of treatment options, as well as expertise and training to care for your child’s teeth, gums, and mouth. So if your pediatrician suggests that your child receive a dental exam, you can be assured that a pediatric dentist will provide the best possible care.

If your child is experiencing tooth pain or needs a routine dental exam, call our offices at 540-900-0289 today or set an appointment online.

Dr. Reopelle, Dr. Anderson, and the team at Parkway Pediatric Dentistry are here to help you help your child achieve and maintain a happy and healthy smile that will last a lifetime.