The thought of having your first root canal can be scary, even for your children. However, having the procedure is necessary for ensuring the other teeth will not be affected by bacteria. What you usually hear from parents or other individuals that have experienced a root canal is that it can be a painful process. But there have been new advancements in dentistry that will make root canals painless for patients.
It also helps that you know more about the procedure so that rather than scaring your little one, you can educate them on why they must undergo a root canal procedure.
What Is a Rooth Canal?
A root canal is a type of treatment that’s used to repair a tooth that is badly decayed or infected. During this procedure, the nerve and pulp are removed and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed.
What Are the Signs You Need a Root Canal?
Severe teeth pain when eating or putting pressure on the area
Sensitivity to hot or cold that lingers after the stimuli has been removed
Swelling or tenderness in the gums close to where the tooth pain is
Darkened tooth
A small bump on the gums close to the area where the tooth pain is
What Happens When the Tooth Does Not Undergo This Procedure When It Needs To?
Know that when the nerve tissue or pulp is not removed when it is damaged, then it breaks down and the bacteria within the pulp chamber will start to multiply. This bacteria or decayed debris will then cause an infection or abscessed tooth.
An infection can also cause the following:
There will be bone loss around the tip of the tooth
Areas in the face, neck or head will start to swell
It can cause drainage problems that extend outward from the root
What Happens During a Root Canal?
The dental pediatrician in Fairfax, VA will take an X-ray to see the shape of the root canals and identify if there are any signs of infection in a surrounding bone.
They will then use local anesthesia to numb the area near the tooth.
So that the area is dry and free of saliva during the procedure, the dentist will place a rubber dam around the tooth.
The dentist will then drill the tooth to remove the pulp, bacteria, decayed nerve tissue and related debris.
The cleaning process is achieved through root canal files. Also, water or sodium hypochlorite is used to flush away the debris.
How Can I Prepare My Child for the Root Canal?
It’s only normal that your little one will feel anxious before the procedure. However, it would help that you discuss this with your dental pediatrician in Fairfax, VA what you can do to encourage your little one so that they can finish the procedure without a hitch. Furthermore, you also need to determine if your dentist is the kind that knows how to comfort your child and incorporate positive reinforcement every once in a while during the procedure. When your children hear words of encouragement and get praised while they are undergoing their procedure, it boosts their self-confidence and alleviates their fears.
Are you looking for a dental pediatrician in Fairfax Virginia who can accommodate the dental needs of your children? Greater Washington Dentistry is a pediatric dental clinic in Fairfax, Virginia that aims to promote pediatrician fairfax va better dental habits in children.
We have a dental pediatrician in Fairfax, VA that can perform a pain-free root canal on your children so that they can have healthy and beautiful smiles in the years to come.
Get in touch with us today to know more