When your child is in pain, you would do anything to make it stop. Even going to extreme measures doesn’t seem so crazy if it will help. For instance, if your child has a bad toothache, you may consider having the tooth entirely removed. However, there is another option that doesn’t require extraction: pulp therapy.
Similar to root canal treatment, pulp therapy entails taking out the tooth’s nerve, preserving the rest of the natural structure. But why should you give your child’s treatment options serious thought? Why is pulp therapy preferred over tooth extraction? Keep reading to find out!
Why Your Child Should Get Pulp Therapy
Tooth decay isn’t like the common cold in that it can eventually work its way out of your child’s system. In fact, it only progresses and deepens with time. As a result, what may have been a small cavity yesterday can progress into a more complex and painful problem tomorrow. The sooner you can take your child in to have the decay or damage treated with pulp therapy, the easier it will be to resolve the issue and get their smile back to normal.
Why Tooth Extractions Should Be Avoided Whenever Possible
Instead of going through the trouble of pulp therapy, you may think extraction would be a better option. Especially if the afflicted tooth is a baby one, it may seem unnecessary to save the tooth. While there are situations where extraction is the best or only choice available, if your child’s tooth can be saved, it needs to be!
Baby teeth, although temporary, help permanent teeth line up more correctly. They also enable your child to bite and chew their food. If these teeth are lost prematurely, the permanent teeth may not align as straight as they otherwise would.
Replacements for adult teeth have come far in recent decades; however, even dental implants can’t completely compensate for the real thing. Natural teeth, even those without the pulp in them, can better gauge how much biting force is needed to grind and bite food than any prosthetic. Plus, patients aren’t eligible for implants until they have finished their oral development, which usually occurs after they reach 18 years of age.
In the end, although extraction and tooth replacement aren’t bad when needed, your child may not have to go through these more extreme treatments. Their tooth can be preserved, which is well worthwhile—even for baby teeth. You can save your child’s smile with pulp therapy early!
About the Author
Dr. Patrick Bowman has practiced as a board-certified pediatric dentist for more than a decade so far. Since earning his master’s in biomedical sciences and completing a two-year training program in pediatric dentistry, he has continued to take advanced training coursework to stay updated on the most innovative treatments in the industry. To help young patients undergoing pulp therapy feel comfortable and relaxed, he offers sedation and a calm, kid-friendly environment. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Bowman, contact Wash Park Pediatric Dentistry in Denver by calling 720-647-6310 or clicking here.