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Root Canal For Baby Teeth?

The dentist has suggested we have a root canal performed on a baby tooth. Is this really necessary?

Root canals on baby teeth are becoming increasingly common. Baby teeth have very small roots in comparison to adult teeth. Many consumers think that a root canal cannot be needed, and that the dentist is merely looking for extra cash. This is not the case.

If you wan't to save money you need to take immediate steps to look at your child's diet and oral hygiene to prevent severe dental problems later in life. It's vital to look at diet and prevention. The fact that your child needs a root canal so early in life is not a good sign for their future health.

Once the baby tooth has been filled and is compromised, it does not take long for the tooth to decay quickly in the young child's mouth.

Once the teeth are badly decayed the options are not good for you or your child. The tooth can be pulled. If the -Ray shows there is no root left, the tooth can be pulled. However, if the baby tooth is a molar, it is likely the child will need to have that molar in place for several years.

If you just go ahead and pull the tooth just leaving the space will create eruption problems as the adult teeth come in. The teeth next to the gap will move in, and you've got all sorts of problems which may even need surgical intervention to solve later in life. Adding a space maintainer can be more expensive often than the root canal treatment.

In the case of a front tooth, it's easier to pull, but you then have the cosmetic problem. Dentists will always try and save the tooth wherever possible.