Long-term dental health is essential to a child’s well-being as they grow up. Endodontists are trained to treat pediatric patients when cavities are too deep for the pediatric dentist to treat, or when trauma occurs to the front teeth. Some endodontists avoid treating children due to the sensitive needs of these patients that require special attention, efficiency, and the need for a calming and low-stress environment. At Jakob Endodontics, Dr. Chaim Jakob, DMD has the experience and know-how to treat pediatric patients efficiently and comfortably. Healthy teeth help children grow into well-adjusted adults and are a significant component of their overall well-being. Taking care of children’s teeth is essential to long-term health and will allow them to eat, speak, and grow properly.
What Is Pediatric Endodontics?
Children’s teeth are very delicate, whether they are baby teeth or permanent teeth. They deserve the care and attention to be nurtured and taken care of. Pediatric endodontics involves diagnosing and treating dental issues in a child’s tooth roots.
If not taken care of, pediatric permanent adult teeth may be prone to deep decay and infections that may necessitate root canal treatment. When a child starts to feel pain or discomfort or suffers premature tooth loss, it can affect how their permanent teeth align and how they speak and chew in the future.
Jakob Endodontics always focuses on maintaining a child’s oral health so that they can grow into healthy adults. We practice in phases of Pediatric endodontics including procedures such as apexification, regenerative treatments, trauma, and standard root canal procedures.
What should I do to help maintain my child’s dental health?
The more that we can prevent as adults to our children’s teeth, the better off our children will be. Pediatric dental care is essential for strong teeth as they mature into adults, so it is crucial to follow proper dental guidelines to ensure good dental health:
- Bring your child to the pediatric dentist early in life so they can get proper care from infancy
- Encourage proper flossing and brushing as they grow older and more responsible
- Schedule regular checkups for your children like exams and checkups
- To prevent injuries to their mouths, give them mouthguards and other preventative measures during sports or other activities
What are signs I should look for in my child’s dental health?
As parents, we want to ensure our children care for their teeth and well-being. Here are some things you should be on the lookout for:
- If your child is feeling discomfort or tooth pain that won’t go away
- Swelling or redness that has developed in their gums
- A sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures
- Tooth discoloration due to an accident or an injury
What are common pediatric dental diseases to look out for in my child?
Here are some common dental pediatric procedures that we at Jakob Endodontics can help:
- Pulpotomy:
- As a child’s teeth come in, this procedure involves removing an infected portion of a baby tooth or adult tooth. This allows the healthy parts to grow naturally and fixes any infected or decayed areas.
- Apexogenesis:
- This procedure ensures that the adult teeth are developing correctly and encourages the roots to continue growing
- Apexification:
- When the pulp of a developing permanent tooth cannot be sealed due to open and under developed apices. This procedure facilitates a hard tissue barrier (Bioceramic putty or MTA) at the root tip and allows the root canal to be completed and the tooth to be restored.
- Trauma:
- As with most children, accidents will happen to their teeth. Pediatric endodontics and our emergency dental care team can help with fractured or dislodged teeth to prevent further complications by properly diagnosing if a tooth is affected by the trauma.
The Role of a Pediatric Endodontist
Our job at Jakob Endodontics is our specialized training in treating pediatric dental cases as they develop. Our expertise in dental pulp and root issues will help attack the infected areas of your child’s teeth and make them feel comfortable as we tailor our treatments to their needs. We pride on making this process and procedure smooth and quick for the patient and their waiting parents.
Why Pediatric Endodontics Matters
By addressing issues like infections, trauma, or developmental concerns early, pediatric endodontics ensures that your child maintains healthy teeth and gums well into adulthood. This specialized root canal care not only resolves immediate problems but also prevents complications arising from untreated conditions.
Caring for your child’s dental health today means giving them the foundation for a lifetime of healthy, confident smiles.