If you are a parent, you may have heard the term “pulpotomy” from a pediatric dentist near you at least once before. You may have wondered what it meant and whether it is a part of restorative dentistry. Simply put, this is similar to a root canal procedure. This is a treatment performed in pediatric offices near you to save a tooth from being extracted or pulled out.
Losing baby teeth is inevitable as they are meant to fall out. However, having them fall out before they are ready can actually cause problems for your child. A couple of signs can indicate a need for this treatment, and these are the following:
- Your child may experience sudden pain
- Tooth temperature sensitivity
- A decayed tooth and exposed pulp
When you observe these signs, make sure to book an appointment with a pediatric dentist in Apollo Beach, FL. It is best to save your child’s baby teeth from damage and decay before their permanent teeth are ready. Let us get to know more about this form of restorative dentistry near you.
What is a Pulpotomy?
This is a term used that refers to children’s root canals. The difference between a pulpotomy performed on an adult and child would be that for adults, the entire pulp tissue is removed while only a part of the nerve is removed for children. In this way, only the damaged part is removed, and the healthy part is kept intact. Once the tooth has been cleaned and saved, a pediatric dentist near you will cover it with a baby crown to prevent it from being damaged further.
The Process
Once you choose one among the multiple pediatric offices near you, your child will be diagnosed. This involves a review of your child’s dental and medical history, an investigation of other possible causes of the pain, and an X-ray examination to confirm the need for pulpotomy.
After confirmation that it is the best approach to address the problem, the dentist will be removing the decayed part of the pulp tissue. The cleaned area is then covered with the antibacterial agent. To facilitate healing and comfort, the dentist may put a medicated filling on the tooth. And lastly, a stainless steel crown will be placed to preserve the tooth and spare it from being broken down prematurely.
How to Prepare Your Child for Pulpotomy
Your child’s attitude towards dental health lies heavily on your approach. So before you go to the dentist, make sure you have prepared them mentally and emotionally. Always use words that relate to pleasant thoughts and ideas. Avoid using negative language when talking about the experience (i.e. “blood”).
Focus on the benefits of the procedure and let your child know what it can do for them. You can tell them that having the procedure done by a pediatric dentist in Apollo Beach, FL, will make the pain go away. You can tell them that it will protect their teeth so they can have a solid set of teeth when they grow older. And always stick to the pain management instructions given by the dentist to make sure your child does not become traumatized by the process.
Your child’s welfare and perspective on staying healthy depends strongly on your influence. Start them young by having regular visits to the dentist. Ease them into feeling and focusing on the benefits of their visit and have them pass along the knowledge to future generations. Healthy living allows you to enjoy life to the fullest, and as the saying goes remember, “health is wealth!”