Do You Provide Root Canal Treatment for Children?

The doctors at Endodontic Consultants of San Antonio frequently treat children from within a 3 hour radius of San Antonio, TX.  Many of the children require root canal treatment due to deep decay and some have had traumatic dental  injuries. These injuries may have been caused by blows to the face while playing sports or as the result of a fall. There are  specific protocols that must be followed to the letter to get good results when treating damaged teeth. As endodontists, we have special training in these procedures and processes. 

What to expect

Root canal treatment involves removing  infection that develops in the dental pulp. A healthy pulp contains nerves, vessels, and other soft tissues. It is protected by dentin and enamel. Damage or decay can compromise the protective layers of a tooth and cause infection in the pulp. Root canal treatment removes the infected pulp and  relieves pain and swelling that can result. By restoring the tooth’s health, root canal treatment avoids the need for extraction. The tooth is preserved, not removed. 

Tissues are gently and completely numbed, so your child will not feel anything during the procedure. After the damaged tissues are removed, the tooth is sealed up. For most of our patients, their teeth feel much better immediately after treatment. However, there may be some residual tenderness for a day or two afterward. During this time, we encourage patients to chew on the other side of their mouth. 

Post-treatment, the tooth is like all others, except it can no longer feel the cold or heat. There are no nerves inside of it. But there are still nerves and blood vessels on the outside. So, the tooth is not “dead.”

Other treatments

The alternative to root canal therapy is generally extraction or the removal of the tooth. As endodontists, Dr. Rick Davis and Dr. Rick Schwartz also provide a variety of other procedures on children’s teeth.  In some cases, when the teeth are very compromised, we go great lengths to retain teeth to keep the jaws intact until they are adults.

Request an appointment for your child with Dr. Davis or Dr. Schwartz. Call Endodontic Consultants of San Antonio at (210) 405-0473.