can children get root canals?

Hearing that your 5-year-old child needs a "root canal" can be terrifying for any parent. But the truth is, pediatric root canals—clinically known as a Pulpotomy or Pulpectomy—are highly common, incredibly safe, and often necessary.

Why Not Just Pull the Baby Tooth Out?

Parents often wonder, "It’s going to fall out anyway, why not just extract it?"

Baby teeth act as natural "space maintainers" for the permanent adult teeth growing underneath them. If a baby tooth is pulled out prematurely, the surrounding teeth can shift and block the adult tooth from coming in properly. This often leads to severe crowding, crooked teeth, and the need for expensive braces later in life. Furthermore, children need their baby teeth for proper speech development and nutrition.

What is a Pediatric Root Canal?

When a cavity goes untreated and reaches the nerve (pulp) of a baby tooth, it causes severe pain and infection.

• Pulpotomy (Partial): If the infection is only in the crown portion of the nerve, we remove the infected part, place a soothing medication, and cap the tooth with a pediatric crown.
• Pulpectomy (Complete): If the infection has traveled into the root, we remove the entire nerve, clean the canal, and fill it with a special material that the child's body can safely resorb when the adult tooth pushes through.

Is it Painful?

Not at all! At My Dentist, we specialize in pain-free pediatric dentistry. We use highly effective local anesthesia and behavioral guidance techniques to ensure your child is completely comfortable and numb throughout the entire 20-30 minute procedure.