Why Might My Child Need a Pulpotomy?
Deep cavities or trauma to a tooth can lead to the need for a pulpotomy – Parkway Pediatric Dentistry explains when a pulpotomy may be beneficial for your child.
Roanoke, VA – Has your child complained about a toothache, but you aren’t sure if it’s cause for concern? It can sometimes be difficult to know if your child should be seen by a dentist right away or if the pain will quickly go away. But when it comes to your child’s smile, we recommend erring on the side of caution.
That’s because what starts out as a small problem can grow into a big one if left untreated for too long.
Sometimes the pain may not bother your child for too long, but other times we may need to fill a cavity or perform a procedure called a pulpotomy.
Why Would My Child Need a Pulpotomy?
A Pulpotomy can help your child has when they’ve suffered inflammation or infection in their tooth’s crown. This inflammation or infection can result from trauma (from something like a blow to the face) or a really large cavity. If this happens, we want to treat the tooth before the inflammation can travel further down the tooth into the root, causing more pain and a bigger problem.
Pulpotomies enable pediatric dentists Roanoke VA, such as Dr. Ryan and Dr. Scott, to preserve these essential structures as well as possible. Maintaining their structural integrity even as the inner soft tissues suffer from infection allows your child to retain full use of their teeth and avoid additional complications.
Furthermore, these procedures prevent infections from spreading beyond the child’s mouth. Keep in mind that inside our teeth, several blood vessels could help spread infections from your kid’s tooth to the rest of their body.
Is the Process Long?
A pulpotomy can be performed in only 15-30 minutes in our office and is a very simple procedure. We remove the infected pulp from the crown of the tooth, then clean and seal the tooth. Some people call this a partial or baby root canal.
Are Baby Teeth Important?
Some people may wonder why we work so hard to preserve a baby tooth since it’s only going to fall out anyway. But baby teeth are very important in your child’s life. Think about everything your teeth do for you during the course of 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 you lose a baby tooth too early, it can throw off where and how the permanent teeth erupt, potentially leading to orthodontic problems and additional complications.
Baby teeth are essential for your child’s development. These structures help properly develop speech and ensure adequate nutrition, which undoubtedly contributes to their social skills.
Get Help From a Professional
If your child is experiencing tooth pain, call our offices at 540-900-0289 today. We can help determine what issue your child may face and create a plan to treat it before it becomes more severe. And then, together, we can create an oral hygiene plan to keep your child’s smile healthy for years to come.