If your child has a toothache you may need to see Dr. Mila Belgrade or Dr. Dee Chazbani for a baby root canal (pulpotomy). A toothache often indicates an infected tooth, so it’s important to see the team at Miles of Little Smiles right away, and ensure that your child gets the treatment they need to save their tooth and protect their oral health. Learn more about pulpotomies below, or contact us now to schedule a same-day emergency appointment in White Plains or Westchester.
What is a Pulpotomy?
Pulpotomies are often called “baby root canals” because they are very similar to root canal treatment, but they are only performed on baby teeth.
The basic procedure is simple to understand. Dr. Mila Belgrade or Dr. Dee Chazbani will create an opening in your child’s tooth, and then remove the decayed material from the inside of the tooth. Once this is done, she will apply a special dressing to the interior of the tooth, which will encourage the remaining pulp inside the tooth to heal properly.
In contrast to a traditional root canal, which requires the removal of all of the pulp from your child’s tooth, pulpotomies are intended to preserve the healthy pulp. This keeps the tooth healthy and strong until it falls out naturally and is replaced by an adult tooth.
Why would my child need a Pulpotomy?
Pulpotomies are required when your child has a serious cavity that has caused their dental pulp to become infected. This can happen due to an oral injury that breaks the tooth. But more commonly, a pulpectomy is required when a large, untreated cavity spreads and reaches the “pulp” within your child’s tooth.
The pulp consists of nerves and blood vessels, and is what keeps the tooth alive. If the pulp has become infected but this infection has not yet spread to the roots of the teeth, a pulpotomy is usually the best option for restoring your child’s smile and oral health.
If your child does not get a pulpotomy in time, it’s possible that the infection could spread into the roots of the teeth. This treatment is more similar to a traditional root canal. It involves removing all of the remaining tooth pulp. Then, a biocompatible material will be placed into the tooth to support it, and keep it strong until it falls out naturally and is replaced by a permanent tooth.
Understanding the Pulpotomy Treatment Process in White Plains
Dr. Mila or Dr. Dee will begin the treatment process at our White Plains office by cleaning and numbing your child’s mouth. Your child can also be sedated during treatment for their comfort. Then, she will use a dental drill to remove any damaged tooth material, and to create a small opening in the tooth.
Then, your dentist will use specialized dental tools to remove the infected pulp from inside the tooth. The area will be cleaned and sanitized, then she will apply a healing dressing to the inside of the tooth. Finally, the tooth will be restored with a filling or a crown to protect it as it heals, and ensure it is protected from further decay and damage.
Benefits of Pulpotomy
Pulpotomies are much more cost-effective and less invasive than root canals in treating damaged dental pulp that has not yet reached the tooths’ root. While root canals can take multiple appointments, a pulpotomy can be performed in one.
It is a highly effective and successful procedure at alleviating the pain, inflammation, and infection in deciduous teeth while keeping the teeth intact. Pulpotomies from our White Plains practice are a great tool used to restore the health of your child’s tooth without extracting it.
This procedure prevents infection or tooth decay from spreading to other teeth or penetrating deeper into the tooth. By preventing extraction, you successfully avoid all of the consequences that come with losing a tooth prematurely.
To avoid the teeth from shifting and blocking the eruption of the permanent tooth, your child would need to wear a space maintainer until the permanent tooth is ready to erupt. They would be left with a gap in their smile and a metal oral appliance placed in the gap.
