We are excited to announce that our office is now open with a limited schedule for all treatments and procedures, and that we’re taking additional special measures to ensure the health and safety of our patients and team members.
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We are excited to announce that our office is now open with a limited schedule for all treatments and procedures, and that we’re taking additional special measures to ensure the health and safety of our patients and team members.
read more
If your child has an infected adult tooth, timely intervention with root canal therapy is essential for protecting their smile. At Sea of Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Raj and Dr. Mukund are here to help. We offer minimally-invasive root canal therapy to restore your child’s smile and bite, and preserve their oral health for years to come. Learn more below, or contact us now for a consultation.
Root canal therapy is used to treat infected adult teeth. Teeth usually become infected due to an extensive, untreated cavity that eats through the hard, outer layers of the tooth, and exposes the vulnerable “pulp” inside the tooth. However, dental trauma like a slip and fall can also crack or break the tooth, leading to an infection.
When the pulp becomes infected, the blood vessels and nerves that keep your child’s tooth alive will begin to die. Eventually, this results in the death and permanent loss of the tooth. A root canal is used to avoid this.
Root canal therapy involves creating an opening in the tooth, removing decayed material, sanitizing the interior of the tooth, then filling and restoring the tooth to protect it from further damage. With proper care, this restored tooth can last a lifetime.
Signs of an infected tooth due to a cavity are usually fairly easy to recognize. Your child may complain of a sensitive tooth, or pain and discomfort that persist for multiple days. Any serious tooth pain demands immediate attention from a dentist, so contact our team right away for an appointment.
In addition, if your child has recently experienced a serious dental injury like a cracked or damaged tooth, they may need to have their tooth inspected at our office to check for an infection.
Dr. Mukund or Dr. Raj will begin by cleaning your child’s mouth and numbing the treatment area. Your child can also be sedated during this process for their comfort. After this, Dr. Raj or Dr. Mukund will use a dental drill to remove damaged enamel and make an opening in the surface of the tooth.
Through this opening, a variety of dental tools will be used to clean away decayed pulp from the interior of the tooth, and to sanitize and clean the tooth. Once this process is complete, the tooth will be flushed with disinfectant.
Then, it will be restored. Dr. Mukund or Dr. Raj will fill the tooth up with “gutta-percha,” which replaces the missing pulp and strengthens the tooth. Finally, the tooth will be capped with a crown or a filling, protecting it from further damage.
Dr. Mukund Patel and Dr. Raj Patel are always here to provide your child with the care they need to restore their teeth and protect their smile. To get started, just contact our office in Yardley, Bensalem, Warrington, or Glenside to schedule a consultation.
We know that a root canal seems scary. The idea of a root canal is enough to make most adults nervous, so it can be very intimidating for a child. But in reality, root canals are nothing to be worried about.
Millions of root canals are done each year. The process is extremely effective at restoring infected teeth, and with local numbing and sedation available at our office, your child won’t feel any pain or discomfort throughout the entire process.
In fact, if your child is experiencing a toothache due to an infected tooth, a root canal is the best way to eliminate the pain of a tooth infection. After treatment, your child won’t have to feel any more pain or discomfort.
Depending on the type of sedation your child is receiving, they may be required to fast (avoid eating and drinking) before their appointment. Your dentist at Sea of Smiles Pediatric Dentistry will give you complete instructions on how to prepare for sedation before their appointment, so make sure to follow their directions.
Before your child’s appointment, make sure they’re well-rested, and that they dress comfortably. Do your best to maintain a positive attitude, stay calm, and avoid looking worried. If you’re feeling anxious, your child will know, and they may be more likely to be anxious about the procedure, too.
Beyond this, there isn’t much that you have to do. If your child feels nervous, reassure them that everything is going to be okay, and that the dentist is going to take great care of them. And don’t worry about explaining what will happen during their root canal procedure. Your child’s dentist at Sea of Smiles Pediatric Dentistry can explain the process in a child-friendly way.
Beyond maintaining a good brushing and flossing routine, there are no special precautions you’ll need to take to care for your child’s treated tooth. You may also need to come back to Sea of Smiles Pediatric Dentistry in a few weeks so that your child can get a permanent crown to restore their tooth, so make sure you come to any follow-up appointments that you’ve scheduled for your child.
If your child was sedated with laughing gas for their root canal, they will be able to function completely normally after a few minutes. They may have a headache, feel a bit confused, or feel dizzy or nauseated. Having a light meal before treatment and avoiding large meals for a few hours afterward will help with nausea.
If your child received oral conscious sedation, they will be “out of it” for a while after their treatment, and won’t be able to go back to school or resume day-to-day activities. The after-effects of sedation may last up to 4-6 hours or longer.
Either way, we recommend taking it easy for the rest of the day so that your child can recover. The treated tooth may feel a bit sore. This is normal, and the pain should not last longer than 3 days. If it lasts for more than 3 days or gets worse, you should contact Sea of Smiles Pediatric Dentistry for a follow-up appointment.
