Pulp Therapy Plano
Protect & Restore Baby Teeth with Pulp Therapy
Restoring baby teeth that have become damaged due to poor oral hygiene, or accidental injury is the best way to ensure your child’s adult teeth erupt on schedule without causing complications to the rest of their arch. Pulp therapy is a safe, effective way to protect the tooth from further damage all the while restoring its function and helping to bring back their beautiful, pain-free smile.
Why Choose Antoon Family Dental of Plano for Pulp Therapy
- Dental Insurance Welcome & Flexible Financing Available
- Comfort Amenities Available
- Same Day Appointments & Walk-ins Welcome
Does My Child Need Pulp Therapy?
If your child has a tooth that has excessive decay, damage, or infection, pulp therapy could help preserve its appearance and function until it’s time for it to fall out on its own. While it may not seem like a big deal to pull a damaged baby tooth ahead of schedule, the truth is that this can cause a lot of problems later, including alignment and bite issues. While an extraction may be more affordable up front, these problems can lead to costly orthodontic interventions down the road. Thus, treating it now with pulp therapy can save not just the tooth, but a lot of frustration and money as they grow.
The Pulp Therapy Process
Pulp therapy is a lot like a root canal for adults but depending on the severity of the damage or infection, may be less invasive. Often, pulp therapy can leave some of the pulp in place (pulpotomy), while in some cases it may need to be completely removed (pulpectomy). The exact procedure your child needs will depend on the severity of the damage as well as the location of the tooth.
At your child’s pulp therapy treatment, Dr. Antoon will first make sure they are comfortable by numbing the tooth and surrounding area. Once they’re ready, he will open the tooth, remove the infection, sanitize the tooth, and then close it back up with either a crown or filling. Your child will then be able to return home to recover over the next few days and even use the tooth again to enjoy a full diet until it is ready to exfoliate naturally.
The Benefits of Getting Pulp Therapy
One of the best things about pulp therapy is the ability to preserve your child’s baby tooth until it’s time for it to fall out on its own. This spares them the difficulties of eating with a missing tooth, as well as preventing the adult tooth from emerging too soon and causing crowding and bite problems that may require orthodontic treatment later. More importantly, however, is that it alleviates the immediate pain caused by the tooth infection, so your child has a beautiful, healthy, pain-free smile once again!
Pulp Therapy FAQs
Is Pain Normal After Pulp Therapy?
Your child’s mouth will be numbed with a local anesthetic before their treatment begins. We also offer nitrous oxide sedation to help them if needed to help them feel even more comfortable in the dental chair. Ultimately, they shouldn’t be able to feel the area that we are working on at all for several hours. After the numbness wears off, they may experience some soreness or sensitivity, but this is mild and temporary. Any discomfort can be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers. After a few days, their smile should feel good as new.
Can My Child Eat Before Their Pulp Therapy?
If your child is receiving sedation for their treatment, they may need to fast for a few hours beforehand. This helps to reduce the risk of nausea caused by the sedative. If your child isn’t receiving sedation, having a meal a couple of hours before their procedure is a good idea because they will need to wait until after the numbness has worn off before they can eat again. Not waiting can result in your child accidentally biting their lip or cheek, which will end in a rude awakening after the anesthetic wears off.
What Happens If You Wait Too Long for Pulp Therapy?
Unlike the rest of the body, the teeth are unable to heal themselves. This means that tooth infections will only even get worse and more painful when they aren’t treated. Your child’s procedure should be scheduled as soon as their dentist says that they need it. Waiting too long for this procedure can cause the infection to spread to other areas of the mouth, resulting in systematic illness. The tooth can even become so damaged that it needs to be extracted.
How Can Pulp Therapy Be Prevented?
The best way to prevent the need for pulp therapy is to help your child keep up an excellent real hygiene routine. This means brushing twice and flossing every day. They should also attend cleanings and checkups twice a year with their dentist. Maintaining a healthy diet also helps to prevent oral health issues. This means limiting sugar, eating lots of nutritious foods, and staying hydrated. If your child plays sports, purchase them a mouthguard to keep their teeth protected.