Root Canals

What is a root canal?

A root canal is a treatment to save your child’s tooth if its pulp has become infected or injured. Your child’s tooth pulp is the inner layer of their tooth. After their tooth has erupted through the gums, their pulp doesn’t serve much of a purpose beyond providing sensory information for hot and cold sensations.

If their pulp becomes infected from tooth decay that makes its way to their inner tooth or suffers damage from physical trauma, like a crack, break, or fracture, it can become swollen and inflamed.

This swelling is incredibly painful because their pulp is full of nerve endings that get pressed up against the inside of their teeth. This is the pain that most people mistakenly associate with a root canal when, in reality, a root canal actually alleviates this pain by removing swollen pulp.

How do I know if my child needs a root canal?

Your child’s tooth pulp might be damaged or infected if they have:

• Intense toothache
• Swollen or tender gums
• A darkening or discoloration in their tooth
• Bad breath
• Pus around their gumline
• A small pimple (abscess) near their tooth root

Your child might not notice any pain or discomfort in the earliest stages of infection, which is why it’s important to maintain regular dental cleanings and checkups with the team at Leeward Pediatric Dentistry.

If your child is experiencing any of these symptoms, schedule a visit with the team immediately.

What can happen if my child does not get a root canal?

Infected or damaged tooth pulp can lead to a number of serious dental conditions. Even if the infection is one of your child’s baby teeth, you still need to get it treated.

Despite the fact that their tooth is going to fall out eventually, the infection could spread to other, more permanent areas of their mouth, like neighboring teeth, gums, or jaw bone.

Do root canals hurt?

Root canals have gotten a reputation as being painful procedures mainly because the condition that necessitates them (infected or damaged tooth pulp) is so painful.

But the procedure itself is no more uncomfortable than a filling, and the team at Leeward Pediatric Dentistry numb your child’s tooth and oral tissues with a local anesthetic so that they don’t experience any pain during the procedure.

How do you perform a root canal?

Leeward Pediatric Dentistry has an in-house specialist who performs your child’s root canal, ensuring that they get the best treatment with the most effective results. They also practice safe dentistry to keep your child calm and relaxed throughout the procedure without the need for sedation or nitrous oxide. 

The specialist removes your child’s damaged pulp through a hole that they drill through the top of the tooth. Then, they fill your child’s tooth with a rubber-like compound called gutta-percha. 

Finally, they fill the access hole in the top of your child’s tooth and fit the tooth with a dental restoration like a crown to strengthen it and provide further protection.

Schedule your child’s root canal with Leeward Pediatric Dentistry today by calling the office or booking your visit online.