Caring for your child’s smile isn’t as easy as it sounds. In fact, according to a 2022 study, dental caries or cavities are the number one chronic illness in children in the United States. That makes them about five times more common in kids than asthma, and seven times more common than hay fever! Worse yet, when those cavities go undetected, they can sometimes penetrate through the tooth’s enamel and dentin to the pulp, causing an extremely uncomfortable toothache. If your child’s dentist has recommended treating this type of painful cavity with a pulpectomy or pulpotomy, here are some key differences between these two treatments and why preserving your child’s baby teeth is so important!
Pulpectomy vs. Pulpotomy
Inside your teeth, there are many channels filled with a substance known as pulp, which is a mixture of nerves, blood vessels, connective tissues, and specialized cells. These are what cause you to experience sensitivity to heat and cold or any other painful stimuli. A pulpectomy is a procedure performed by your child’s dentist when a cavity has reached the pulp chamber and root canals of the tooth and is causing a painful infection. During treatment, their dentist will remove all the infected pulp, replacing it with synthetic pulp to keep the tooth alive. This treatment is very similar to a root canal procedure an adult might have.
Conversely, a pulpotomy is performed when the cavity has reached only the pulp chamber of the tooth, which contains the nerves and blood vessels that keep it alive. This treatment is much less involved than a pulpectomy, because the healthy pulp tissue is left in place in the tooth instead of being completely removed.
Why Does My Child Need Treatment on a Baby Tooth?
Though it may seem pointless to work on a baby tooth that will only fall out anyway, it is very important to keep them in place until they’re ready to come out on their own. That’s because when they’re lost early, it can cause the permanent (adult) teeth to erupt too soon, creating alignment issues. Thus, to prevent future orthodontic problems and keep your child’s smile looking and feeling its best, it is imperative that you preserve their baby teeth until they come out naturally.
Remember, whether your child needs a pulpectomy or a pulpotomy, it’s important that you heed their dentist’s advice about treatment. Preserving their baby teeth will help ensure that when their permanent teeth are ready to erupt, they have the best odds to not just survive, but to create a healthy, beautiful, thriving smile that lasts a lifetime! Not only do these treatments help give their teeth the best odds for survival, but they also go right to the source and quickly relieve the agonizing pain of a tooth infection!
About Our Practice
At Avion Dental & Orthodontics, we know how important it is to see your child smile (and how hard it is to see them in pain). That’s why we offer a variety of children’s dental procedures to help safeguard their teeth and gums for a lifetime. If your child is suffering from a painful toothache, there’s no need to wait until their regular dental exam to get help. Schedule an appointment with us today by visiting our website or calling us directly at 972-807-9887.