Children and Root Canals: When Is it Necessary and How Does It Differ?

Root canal treatment is commonly performed on adult teeth, but did you know young children may sometimes require root canals as well? Though not typical, root canals can be necessary in children to save badly infected or damaged teeth. Pediatric root canal procedures have some differences compared to adult treatments. Understanding when root canals are needed for kids and what makes them unique can help you support your child through this process. Here, I would like to thank Haddad Dental, a leading dental clinic in Easton PA for providing technical information for this blog.

Why Do Children Occasionally Need Root Canals?

Root canals treat teeth with diseased or injured pulp. The pulp contains nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue inside the tooth. It can become inflamed or infected due to:

• Advanced tooth decay
• Cracks or chips from trauma
• Repetitive injury like grinding teeth

If the pulp becomes infected, the tooth risks abscess or further infection spread. A root canal removes the diseased pulp, disinfects the interior, and seals the tooth to save it.

A child may require a root canal if they have:

• Severe tooth decay
• Injury to the tooth, like a cracked, displaced or knocked-out permanent tooth
• A rare developmental defect leaving pulp exposed
• A hereditary condition causing pulp issues

Signs Requiring Evaluation

It’s important to regularly examine your child’s teeth for signs of problems that may need root canal treatment:

• Tooth pain or sensitivity, especially to hot or cold foods
• Swelling around one tooth
• Darkening color of the tooth
• Lingering pimple-like bump on the gums near a tooth
• Broken or chipped teeth

If you notice any concerning symptoms, see a pediatric dentist promptly for evaluation. Early intervention can often save the tooth with a simple filling, preventing the need for a root canal.

The Root Canal Procedure in Children

The goal of a pediatric root canal is the same as for an adult tooth – to remove diseased pulp, disinfect the empty chamber and interior root canals, and seal the tooth to prevent reinfection. However, performing root canals on children presents some unique factors:

Most often, a dentist will recommend general anesthesia for a child’s root canal. This allows them to remain still and comfortable during the approximately 60 to 90 minute procedure. Local anesthesia is not reliable for young patients.

Primary baby teeth requiring root canals may undergo a pulpotomy instead – a simpler procedure to remove pulp from just the main chamber.

The pulp tissue in a child’s permanent teeth is larger than an adult’s, nearly filling the interior space. Specialized pediatric dental tools are used to fully extricate the pulp.

A pediatric dentist takes care to avoid damaging developing permanent teeth just under the roots of infected primary teeth.

During disinfection, more irrigation is needed to flush out the extensive network of pulp tissue in children’s permanent teeth.

Once finished, the open root tip in a child’s tooth may need reinforced with a stainless steel crown to prevent future fracture or decay.

Follow up exams are critical to check permanent teeth with root canals for complete closure of the root tip as the child continues to grow.

Recovery and Aftercare General anesthesia requires recovery time, often leaving kids sleepy the rest of the day. They should eat soft foods until numbness wears off. Prescribed antibiotics fight lingering infection while healing occurs over the next month. Contact sports should be avoided during recovery to protect the root canal treated tooth.

Long term success depends on permanent restoration with a crown and diligent dental hygiene to prevent infection recurrence. Your child’s dentist will monitor their treated tooth closely with regular exams. Though it sounds intensive, a root canal can restore a child’s damaged tooth for many years of healthy use.

The Benefits of Pediatric Root Canal Treatment

While no parent wants their child to undergo a root canal, it offers significant benefits compared to tooth extraction:

• Preserves the natural tooth
• Maintains the space in the dental arch
• Allows normal eating, chewing and smiling
• Avoids complications from a missing tooth
• Improves long term oral health

With modern techniques and pediatric expertise, root canals are very manageable. Work closely with your pediatric dentist to determine whether a root canal is the right option to protect your child’s oral health when a tooth is compromised.

Best Dental Clinic for Root Canals in Pennsylvania – Haddad Dental

When a child requires a root canal in Pennsylvania, Haddad Dental provides experienced pediatric dentists and a kid-friendly setting. Their dental team uses advanced tools and techniques specially designed for performing root canals on children’s teeth. Haddad Dental offers general anesthesia options to keep kids comfortable during treatment. Their compassionate staff explains every step to parents and helps children feel at ease. After the procedure, they work closely with families on recovery care and follow-up exams to ensure long term tooth health. Haddad Dental’s specialized pediatric services allow children with tooth infections or injuries to keep their natural teeth through root canal treatment.