After several days of hearing your child talk about tooth pain, you plan on scheduling a dental appointment. Suddenly, however, they say their mouth is doing perfectly fine again. Does this mean you don’t need to go to the dentist after all? Is this a good sign?
Don’t let this seemingly positive change in your child’s symptoms lull you into a false sense of security! When it comes to dental pain, the problem doesn’t go away on its own. Keep reading to learn why your child may still require pulp therapy even if their tooth stops hurting.
What Dental Pain Indicates
If your child has a specific tooth that hurts, especially when they try to eat or when they have sugary, hot, or cold beverages, most of the time, it means that the tooth has become infected. Harmful oral bacteria produce eroding acids that break down the protective enamel, penetrating the more sensitive inner layers of the tooth, causing pain.
Without professional treatment, the cavity or decay will continue to consume the tooth and potentially spread to other teeth around it.
What It Means When Dental Pain Stops
At first, if your child is no longer in pain, it may seem like the issue has resolved itself—much like a cold eventually working out of your child’s system. However, in this scenario, the tooth nerve may have been so decayed that it has died entirely.
In this case, you still need to act quickly and take your child to the dentist! The tooth will need to be treated to prevent further infection.
How Your Child’s Dentist Takes Care of the Problem
When your child arrives, their pediatric dentist’s first priority is to alleviate any suffering through a local anesthetic, which will numb the area and give them quick relief. After looking at X-rays and examining their mouth, the dentist will likely recommend pulp therapy or, in more severe cases, extraction.
Pulp therapy entails removing the decayed structure and the pulp or nerve center of the tooth. After cleaning out and sealing the inner chamber, the dentist will provide a crown or filling to restore the tooth’s function and appearance. It is the best way to preserve their natural smile!
By the time a toothache has stopped, the cavity may have already reached a point where extraction is necessary. If it is a primary tooth lost too prematurely, your dentist may recommend placing a space maintainer, which helps the still-developing adult tooth be better aligned. If it is a permanent tooth, they will recommend the appropriate replacement.
Ultimately, even though the pain may stop, your child should see their dentist. The source of the pain can still wreak havoc on their smile and health. The sooner you respond, the higher the chances that their dentist can save the tooth with pulp therapy. That way, your child can get back to being a kid!
About the Practice
At Wash Park Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Patrick Bowman and Dr. Samantha Graffeo Gardner want to provide positive dental experiences to young patients as they grow. If they arrive in pain, our team can relieve discomfort and get their smile back on track as board-certified pediatric dentists. If your child experiences dental pain, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team by calling the Denver office or visiting our Contact Us page here.