Child Root Canals: More Common Questions Answered 

Do Children Need A Crown After Root Canal Treatment?

Yes, children need a crown after root canal treatment. A simple stainless steel crown is proffered for providing protection to the root canal treated tooth. There are several studies which have shown that those teeth that have been restored with a high-quality crown soon after the root canal treatment is completed are much more likely to remain symptom-free than those that are not.

These crowns also help maintain the proper space for erupting teeth by making sure that the milk teeth do not drift out of position.

How successful Is Root Canal Treatment In Children?

Success, in the case of a milk tooth, would be defined slightly differently than in the case of an adult, thus, a tooth which has remained pain-free for a couple of years would be a good outcome in the case of a milk tooth while that would be a failure in the case of an adult.

It is difficult to get children to co-operate for large amounts of time at a stretch and thus complete isolation, infection control and a clear field of working may not be available. There is a higher chance of recurrent pain in the case of a milk tooth as compared to a permanent one.

Isn’t It Just Easier To Pull The Tooth Out?

In some cases, it definitely is! Extracting the tooth only takes a couple of minutes and the child does not have to visit the dentist again and again. Unfortunately, though, the easier option is rarely ever the better one.

Every tooth has been designed to stay in the mouth for a fixed amount of time. They serve a specific purpose there and even though they will be replaced by permanent ones later in life, they are not useless for the duration that they are there!

Each deciduous tooth guides an erupting permanent tooth into its right position. There is a much higher likelihood of needing braces if the deciduous teeth have been extracted early. The child will also have a tough time eating and chewing food properly if a lot of the teeth go missing.

READ Oral Care: Dental Problems in Children

What If The Root Canal Fails?

No treatment has a 100 percent success rate even though we all wish that were true. Root canals can fail in adults and in children. There is nothing that can be done about that. Other treatment options, usually extractions, have to be explored if that happens.

At least in the case of link teeth, the permanent ones are present underneath to recompense for that loss!

Conclusion

There is enough scientific evidence to conclude with certainty that root canal treatment in children is a highly successful procedure that carries extremely limited risks and is easily accepted by children of varying ages. Keeping this information in mind, all efforts should be made to provide the child with the best treatment possible even if it involves a couple of extra visits to the dentist!