Baby Root Canal
What is a baby root canal?
A baby root canal is a procedure that is done to a primary (baby) tooth that has a large cavity extending to the nerve. This procedure is done to eliminate pain and sensitivity, and saves the tooth. Inside and below the hard structure of teeth and their roots is soft tissue known as pulp. It contains blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissues. During the procedure, inflamed or infected pulp is partially or fully removed. The empty space is then filled with a medicament, allowing the tooth to be saved.
Why might your child need a baby root canal?
Your child might need a baby root canal for various reasons. If their tooth has become severely damaged or broken, it could cause the inner pulp to become inflamed and making a baby root canal necessary. This procedure may also be necessary if your child’s tooth has a large cavity which has caused an infection inside the tooth. Once the pulp is removed, the pain and sensitivity that your child has been experiencing will be gone.
What makes your child a good candidate for baby root canal?
Does your child have a tooth with large decay broken or damaged tooth? Are they having strong tooth pain? It could be a sign of involvement of nerve tissue inside the tooth. A baby root canal will remove the affected nerve. Pain during eating food, brushing teeth or drinking hot or cold liquids could be a symptom of a cavity that needs to baby root canal.
White Crowns
White crowns are one of the material of choice for front teeth. This provides esthetics and durable coverage for the tooth. The material can be resin, full porcelain or stainless steel coated with porcelain on the front. Full coverage of the tooth is indicated when a filling cannot be done due to reasons such as large cavities, after baby root canals, fractured tooth and high caries risk children. They are used more frequently in patients whose treatment is performed under sedation or general anesthesia.
A portion of the tooth enamel needs to be removed to accommodate the crown. After Dr. Abraham reshapes the tooth, she places the crown over the natural tooth and holds it in place with dental adhesive.
Silver Crowns
Metal crowns have been indicated for the restoration of primary and permanent teeth with extensive caries, developmental defects on teeth when failure of other available restorative materials is likely, following baby root canals, for the intermediate restoration of fractured teeth, and for definitive restorative treatment for high caries-risk children. They are used more frequently in patients whose treatment is performed under sedation or general anesthesia.
A portion of the tooth enamel needs to be removed to accommodate the crown. After Dr. Abraham reshapes the tooth, she places the crown over the natural tooth and holds it in place with dental adhesive.
Hall Crowns
This is one of the recent minimally invasive technique where a stainless steel crown is placed directly over the baby tooth with cavity with little or no cavity removal. This will provide a seal to the tooth and the bacteria inside the tooth perishes. This procedure can be a valid alternative, particularly when children are unable to accept conventional treatment with local anesthesia or numbing medicine. This technique cannot be done on all cases and proper case selection is needed.
Dr Abraham carefully assess your child if they are a candidate for Hall technique. During the first visit a small elastic is placed between the teeth to create space. After 2-7 days, the patient will return to the office for the removal of elastic, correct size of the crown is obtained and is glued to the tooth with a dental cement or adhesive. This procedure is relatively quick and requires some cooperation. This technique can be combined with the application of silver diamine fluoride.
If your child needs a dental crown, we will work with you to determine the best option to fit your child’s individual situation.
Hall Crown Process
Separators placed in between teeth
Separators removed
Right after cementing crown
What happens during the procedure for a baby root canal?
After giving your child the needed pain-numbing medication, Dr. Abraham will partially or completely remove the nerve area of the affected tooth. She will make sure the now empty space is thoroughly cleaned and filled with proper medicated material. The tooth will receive a crown to completely protect it and return it to full function.
If you would like to inquire more about the baby root canal procedure, please contact our pediatric dental office today in Carrollton, TX and one of our helpful staff members will be happy to assist you.
Before & After
Before & After
