Pulpotomy (Child Root Canal)

The build up of decay can reach the nerve/pulp of the baby tooth and cause pain. In order to relieve the pain, we need to remove the nerve from the nerve chamber of the particular tooth. This is similar to an adult root canal but does not take as long since only the pulp has to be removed. The other difference is that here is no filling placed in the canal for a child's tooth.

The procedure works well to relieve your child of the pain that caused the problem. Moreover, pulpotomy prevents further deterioration of the tooth and allows it to develop fully until it falls out. Yet, there is a chance that the damage to the nerve is beyond repair and the whole tooth might have to be extracted.

If the tooth does have to be removed, the placement of a space maintainer would likely be needed since it is important to maintain the space that the removed tooth had occupied. Saving the baby tooth is a better option, which can be done only through pulpotomy if the decay has reached the nerve.