Root Canal Treatment

The health of your child’s natural teeth goes beyond what’s visible–the soft tissue beneath baby teeth is just as important when it comes to preserving their smile.

Sometimes, cracks, chips, damage or decay can lead to infections within tooth pulp and the root of the tooth. Thankfully, innovations in dental treatment–like root canal therapy–can both prevent tooth extraction and save baby teeth.

Endodontic treatment is one of the best ways to save natural teeth, and is a comfortable and highly common dental procedure. In fact, according to the American Association of Endodontists, over 15 million root canals are performed each year.

At Brea Yorba Linda Dental Specialists, we are pleased to provide painless, compassionate root canal treatment to the pediatric patients of Yorba Linda.

What is a Root Canal?

A root canal is a dental procedure designed to treat inflammation or infection within the soft tissue of a tooth, where blood vessels and connective tissue are held. 

For child patients in particular, this will repair and save the baby tooth. This protects the developing permanent adult teeth and prevents them from erupting into a child’s mouth too early. In this way, root canal treatment helps prevent potential future need for orthodontic treatment. Preserving baby teeth also makes chewing, biting, swallowing and speaking easier for children as they mature.

As a reminder, the best way to prevent tooth decay from the start is to brush twice a day, floss and maintain regular dental visits. However, we recognize that needing dental treatment is just a part of life and are happy to accommodate the unique needs of our pediatric patients.

When Does My Child Need a Root Canal?

Root canals may be needed for a variety of issues, but some are more common than others. A root canal is the ideal treatment option for children with a deep cavity or significant injury leading to an infected baby tooth. 

It is essential to recognize that in order for a root canal to work properly, the child’s tooth must still be well enough to be preserved. If it is not, Dr. Reid Pullen and Dr. Allen Abrishami may recommend another solution like a tooth extraction.

Usually, as a parent or guardian, you can tell if your child is in need of endodontic treatment due to their symptoms and oral discomfort. If your child is in extreme pain, we invite you to contact us as soon as possible at (714) 529-9029.

What Happens During a Root Canal for a Child Patient?

Modern endodontic treatment is nothing like the pain seen in movies or TV shows–rather, it’s a relatively quick procedure that protects, preserves and restores teeth. For children, it is even more simple and doesn’t require nearly as many special tools as an adult root canal would.

To start, our team will administer a local anesthetic to numb the affected area. For children who struggle with dental anxiety, sedation dentistry is also available to help them relax.

During the treatment process, the infected pulp chamber, which includes the surface nerve chamber, is removed. From here, the hole is cleaned, filled and sealed tightly. A baby crown will top the tooth to restore natural shape and structure.

A healing period will then follow to ensure your child’s tooth fully recovers. Dr. Reid Pullen and Dr. Allen Abrishami and the team will provide all necessary steps, instructions and education needed.

Looking for Pediatric Root Canals Near You in Brea?

At Brea Yorba Linda Dental Specialists, our expert team specializes in restorative dentistry solutions that repair the smile of your child back to total oral and aesthetic health. Call our office at (714) 529-9029 to discuss all of the services we offer to restore, protect and maintain baby teeth, including endodontic treatment.