Baby Root Canals: Signs Your Child May Need One

Avoiding baby root canals is possible. But sometimes, pulp damage can still happen in kids. This is when treating the baby tooth is necessary. Knowing when your child should get this dental restoration is important for your child’s health and development. Here are the signs your child may need baby root canals.

Signs that the child or parent may notice

Pain is the most common sign that may indicate the need for baby root canals. The child may experience a dull ache or intense pain. The throbbing pain may occur during changes in posture. The discomfort may come after consuming hot or cold foods or drinks.

Gum swelling and tenderness may also occur. The swelling of the affected area may even extend to the child’s neck or face. The source of inflammation is often the base of the tooth. In some cases, swelling may not happen. In its place would be a pimple-like bump beside the tooth.

The parent could also notice general body weakness in the child. This sign could happen with inflamed lymph nodes and fever. These signs mean that the child’s body is fighting the infection. Every child has a different degree of pulp damage. That is why seeing the dentist is important. Diagnostic exams can confirm if the child needs baby root canals.

Signs that the dentist may see

Seeing the dentist every six months is important for the child’s dental and general health. These visits can prevent the need for baby root canals. Dentists can spot early signs of a dental problem. Here are some of them:

• Drainage or pus from a dental infection
• Imbalance in the mouth
• Darkened tooth color
• Inflammation of the soft tissue
• Sensitivity
• Wiggly tooth

Diagnostic tests for baby root canals

The dentist could decide to perform more tests after seeing the signs. The tests will help the dentist determine what to do next. A tapping test can tell if the affected tooth or teeth is painful. Tapping healthy teeth will not be painful at all.

Dental X-rays will allow the dentist to see through the child’s teeth, gums, and jawbone. This diagnostic exam is painless. An infection will show in the scans if there are dark spots around the tooth’s roots. Thermal testing can expose which tooth suffers from temperature sensitivity. The dentist will use hot and cold temperatures on the affected teeth. Healthy teeth will stop hurting right away, while infected teeth will experience lingering pain for at least 30 seconds.

A pulp test involves holding an electric pulp tester against the infected teeth. This device will pass different electrical currents through the teeth. The nerves of a healthy pulp will experience a low-level tingling sensation. A dying or dead pulp will not feel anything because its nerves are already dead.