Extractions & Pulpotomies When it comes to taking care of children's teeth, a lot of what you will be taught is preventative. You will want to teach your child how to brush, and you will also want your child to visit our office every six months. That does not mean that there will not be problems, even if you have taught your child to brush three times a day. Here at NC Pediatric Dentistry, we will examine your child's teeth, and if there is something besides a cleaning that needs to be done we will talk it over with you.Extractions and Pulpotomies in ChildrenBaby teeth are not as strong as adult teeth. They are also more susceptible to tooth decay. Often, we will fill a cavity in a baby tooth with a tooth-colored filling. Sometimes, that just is not going to be enough. If the decay has spread and is inside of the tooth, a filling will no longer take care of the problem. If we think that the tooth can be saved, we will most likely suggest a pulpotomy. This is also known as a baby root canal. We will remove the top part of the tooth, and then remove anything that is inside the tooth that is decayed. We will then fill the tooth with a special material that will ward off infection. Finally, we will fit the tooth with a crown. If a tooth is decayed and left untreated, it could lead to more decay, as well as infections of both the tooth and in other parts of the body. If there is no healthy tissue left inside the tooth, a pulpotomy might not be the answer. We will often then decide to extract the tooth. If an adult tooth is extracted, very often we will replace it with a dental implant. That is not the case if it is a baby tooth, because a new tooth will eventually come in. We might use a space maintainer to hold the place of the tooth that was extracted. It depends on how close the adult tooth is to erupting. A space maintainer will hold the space open for the adult tooth and will make sure that the other teeth do not shift in your child's mouth. In an adult, we will often use Novocaine so that the patient will not feel the procedure. With a child, that is not our first choice. We will often use nitrous oxide instead. This will relax the child, make sure that he or she feels no pain, and put any fears and anxieties to rest. Even though baby teeth are not meant to last forever, that does not mean that there will never be problems with them. Here at NC Pediatric Dentistry, we will make sure that your child has a healthy mouth. If there are any signs of decay, we will talk to you about your child's options. Call tbd to make an appointment or if you have any questions. We are here to help. |
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