Many parents are surprised to learn that saving baby teeth can be just as important as caring for permanent ones. A pulpotomy at Kids Dental Center, performed by our expert, board-certified pediatric dentist Dr. Bosede Adeniji in Greenbelt, Maryland, does just that: preserves vulnerable baby teeth until they naturally fall out.
This month, we talk about a pulpotomy and some of the telltale signs that this procedure might be in your child's future.
In most cases, a filling does the trick for a small cavity in the outer layer of the tooth (the enamel). But just over 2% of kids aged 2-12 that see a dentist need a pulpotomy, aka a “baby root canal.”
Although it may sound intimidating, a pulpotomy is a safe, effective way to treat deep cavities in baby teeth. This procedure can make a big difference in your child’s comfort while protecting their oral health for the long term.
If a cavity goes untreated, the decay can penetrate the enamel, tunneling into the soft inner part of the tooth (the pulp). The pulp contains sensitive nerves and blood vessels, so when this happens, your child may experience some serious and highly uncomfortable symptoms.
You can’t treat this type of deep cavity with a simple filling: You need to eliminate the diseased pulp, and that’s exactly what a pulpotomy does.
In this procedure, Dr. Adeniji ensures your child is comfortable using advanced sedation dentistry techniques. She then creates a small opening in the tooth, accessing the infected part of the pulp from the middle of the tooth.
Next, she disinfects the treated area and fills the empty portion of the tooth with a biocompatible material. A treated tooth is weaker than a natural one, so Dr. Adeniji usually places a custom crown over your child’s tooth for extra strength. This allows your child to chew, eat, and speak normally.
Afterward, your child may feel a little sore for a day or two, but over-the-counter pain medicine is usually all they need.
After a pulpotomy, your child’s tooth is safe until it falls out naturally. The treated tooth maintains proper spacing in your child’s mouth and serves as a placeholder for the adult tooth hidden beneath the gums. When your child eventually loses their treated tooth, they shed the crown along with the baby tooth.
Here are six signs that could indicate your child may need a pulpotomy:
Some children may have dental anxiety, so they may try to mask their pain. That’s one reason why regular pediatric dentistry checkups are so important. They allow Dr. Adeniji to detect problems before pain begins or an infection spreads. With regular checkups, Dr. Adeniji can often identify a cavity at the earliest stage when a filling is enough to treat the problem.
At Kids Dental Center, we believe treating cavities in baby teeth does more than stop decay. It builds trust, confidence, and habits that promote lifelong oral health. Dr. Adeniji and our dedicated team of pediatric dentistry specialists go the extra mile to make every visit as stress-free as possible while educating families along the way.
If your child shows signs of tooth pain, or if you’ve been told they have a deep cavity, don’t wait. Call us at Kids Dental Center today at 301-345-2881 to book an appointment and protect your child’s smile.
