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If your child has pulpitis which is inflammation of the pulp, they may need a pulpotomy.
Dr. Azer will examine your child’s tooth to look for signs of an infection. An x-ray will reveal how much of the pulp is infected and if a pulpotomy is suitable.
Before drilling an access hole into the tooth, we will administer local anesthesia to numb the mouth. If your child has dental anxiety or special needs, we also offer IV sedation to make them feel more comfortable.
A hole is drilled into the tooth to gain access to the pulp chamber. Then, we will scrape out the crown portion of the dental pulp, but leave the roots intact.
A medicated dressing is then applied to the remaining pulp to kill bacteria and prevent the remaining pulp from becoming infected.
The access hole will be sealed with a permanent filling or a dental crown depending on where the tooth is located.
A pulpotomy is a much more conservative approach to treating an infection compared to the more invasive root canal which involves removing all of the tooth’s pulp, including the roots. We can preserve more of the existing dental pulp which is good for the long-term health of the tooth because it keeps the tooth alive.
Once a tooth is infected, the source of the infection needs to be removed or it will only get worse. The infection can travel to the deeper layers of the tooth, making restorative treatment no longer viable and requiring extraction. The infection can also spread to the other teeth or through the bloodstream, leading to health problems.
A tooth infection can be incredibly painful because the dental pulp is connected to the tooth’s nerves which are responsible for sensation. When the pulp becomes inflamed, it can lead to hypersensitivity, sharp pain, difficulty chewing, and tenderness. The tooth may even feel loose. Once we remove the infected portion of the pulp, the pain and sensitivity will dissipate.
Your child’s baby teeth are important to their smile aesthetics, tooth functionality, and orthodontic alignment. Baby teeth help your child chew, speak, and maintain space in the mouth for the permanent tooth to erupt. If you don’t treat an infection, they can lose the tooth and this can cause bone loss, shifting teeth, and an impacted permanent tooth.
Dental sealants use a transparent liquid resin, which is applied directly to the teeth and is hardened using a UV light. This creates an impenetrable seal on your child’s tooth, which stops bacteria, acid, and food particles from causing cavities. This treatment is usually recommended specifically for the cavity-prone rear teeth.
Oral cancer screenings are an essential part of preventive care, even for children. Screenings are a part of your child’s oral exams and can be performed quickly, safely, and usually without your child noticing.
The dentist will examine your child’s mouth, gums, and oral tissues, and look for discolored patches, lumps, growths, and other such abnormalities. In the rare case that an issue is found, a biopsy may be taken and sent to a specialist for further analysis, or the dentist will refer you to a specialist directly.
Dental visits every 6 months allow your child’s dentist to become familiar with their oral health, so they can address any issues before they become larger problems.
Kids of all ages can grind their teeth. Custom night guards are created to fit over your child’s teeth perfectly, and prevent direct tooth-to-tooth contact at night while they sleep. This can help reduce teeth grinding, and also prevents premature tooth wear and tear caused by grinding.
If your child plays any contact sports, custom-fitted mouthguards help protect their teeth from damage. We offer comfortable mouthguards that cushion and protect the teeth and gums, and help your child avoid oral injuries like cracked, broken, loose, or avulsed (knocked-out) teeth.
A pulpotomy is a painless procedure.
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