You are here:

Dentistry/Root Canal on baby tooth

Advertisement

Expert: - 12/2/2009


Question
Good afternoon,

My 2 year old daughter chipped her front tooth 6 months ago.  Our dentist capped it,  and it was doing fine for the first 5 months before the infection developped.  After two rounds of antibiotics,  the infection is almost gone.  Our dentist has expained to us that our best option is to extract the tooth.  He has stated that a root canal could be performed,  but is highly discouraged due to the potential of harming the developping adult tooth.
Due to my daughter's young age,  I want to do everything possible to save the tooth. What exactly are the dangers of performing a root canal on her baby tooth?  Should extraction not be a last resort?

Thanking you in advance for your expertise and opinion.

Answer
You are both wise and correct.  Extraction should be the option of last resort.  If properly done a pulpectomy should present minimal or negligible risk to the developing permanent tooth.  The risk would be if the pulpectomy procedure fails to eliminate the infection and the infection persists that could interfere with the developing permanent tooth.  However, with proper supervision and routine on-going dental care and periodic re-evaluation of the affected tooth that can be avoided.

Dentistry

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Dr. Randolph Myerson

Expertise

Please limit your inquiry to questions about orthodontics (braces) and children's dentistry. I am both an Orthodontist and a Pediatric Dentist, having been trained in both of these dental specialty fields. Orthodontics is the dental specialty that treats problems of tooth, bite and jaw alignment using braces and removable appliances. Pediatric Dentistry is the dental specialty also known as dentistry for children, which deals specifically with the dental problems of this special age group from infants to adolescents. I am also experienced in Forensic Dentistry, the application of dentistry to law enforcement and identification using dental records.

Experience

I have been in the private practice of orthodontics and pediatric dentistry for over 20 years. Prior to that I served for three years on the Cleft Palate and Cranio-facial Reconstruction team at Children''s Hospital of Philadelphia and was an Assistant Professor of Dentistry at University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. I also served as a dentist in the U.S.Air Force, stationed at Andrews AFB in Washington, DC.

Organizations
I am a Fellow in the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and a member of the American Association of Orthodontics, as well as a member of the American Dental Association and the Dental Society of the State of New York.

Education/Credentials
I received my BA in Biology from Frankin & Marshall College in 1969, and my dental degree from University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine in 1973. In 1978 I received both my Certificate in Orthodontics from University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, and my Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry from Children''s Hospital of Philadelphia after completing a three year Teaching Fellowship in Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry in 1978.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.