[Dental Root Q&A] Will severe cavities in a child's baby teeth affect tooth development? Can they still get braces later?
Have you ever heard of "root cannula"? Do you have any fears or misunderstandings about it? Many people worry that root cannula treatment will weaken their teeth when they have severe cavities, even believing it's equivalent to killing the tooth and preferring to have it removed directly. However, the truth is quite the opposite. So what exactly is a root cannula?
What is "Du Ya Gen"?
"Root canal treatment" is a procedure that involves treating the dental nerve, causing nerve death or irreversible pulpitis. In such cases, a regular filling cannot be used for repair. Instead, the bacteria in the pulp chamber must be removed to prevent the infection from spreading to the periodontal tissues and alveolar bone. Then, sterile materials are used to fill and seal the pulp. While an infected tooth would otherwise be unusable, root canal treatment removes the cavity and bacteria, ultimately allowing the natural tooth to be preserved.
Does toothache always require root canal treatment?
Toothache doesn't always require root canal treatment. First, it's necessary to determine the state of the tooth's nerves: is it reversible pulpitis, irreversible pulpitis, or necrosis? Irreversible pulpitis cannot heal on its own, therefore root canal treatment is required to remove some or all of the infected or necrotic pulp tissue. The dentist will examine the teeth, performing tests such as hot and cold stimulation, gentle tapping, and taking X-rays to determine if there are any problems.
What is the process of "root canal treatment"?
If only partial pulp removal is required, the procedure involves first removing the coronal pulp, then cleaning the pulp chamber, placing appropriate medication as needed, and finally filling and covering the cavity. If complete pulp removal is necessary, the coronal pulp is removed, the root canal pulp is scraped clean, the entire pulp chamber is cleaned, and then appropriate medication is placed as needed. Finally, the cavity is filled and covered. After the procedure, the dentist may recommend wearing braces for added protection.
Why is it sometimes necessary to use a microscope to examine tooth roots?
Using a microscope to locate the root canal makes it easy to find the nerve line within the root canal.
The main purpose of "root canal treatment" is to locate the damaged dental pulp, then clean and repair it. However, the distribution of root canals within the dental pulp varies from person to person. Some people have three root canals in their molar pulp, while others have four or more. Since there are nerves within the root canals, and the openings of these nerves are sometimes as fine as a hair, their distribution is difficult to see with the naked eye. Therefore, a microscope can be used to magnify the problematic tooth up to about 30 times, clearly showing the location of the nerves within the root canals for treatment. It can also reveal whether there are any lateral root canals near the cavity that need to be treated simultaneously.
Can children have their teeth root canals done?
When baby teeth suffer from deep cavities, trauma, or infection, pediatric root canal treatment is a viable option to save them. If a child's baby tooth is severely eroded by cavities and may cause intense toothache, pediatric root canal treatment can save the damaged tooth from premature extraction, while preserving its function and appearance, and avoiding any impact on the normal growth and development of future permanent teeth.
Can I get braces after a root canal?
This depends on the individual teeth. Clinical trials have shown that, under orthodontic treatment, the rate of tooth movement after root canal treatment is the same as that without root canal treatment. If, after root canal treatment, there is no pain, swelling, or other abnormalities or inflammation, and the periodontal ligament space is normal, then the treatment is successful, and braces will not have any impact. However, it is recommended that patients inform their dentist about their dental condition so that the dentist can develop a suitable treatment plan after a comprehensive understanding of the situation.
Author: Dr. Chen Haoxian
