Expert: Gary Backlund, DMD, MSD - 8/4/2006

Question
My daughter is 3 years old and i was just told that she may need some root canals. They are not sure because she did not act very well for the dentist. And they could not get x-rays. I can not afford general anes. or the sedation that they are offering. The only thing that is covered under my insurance is local. Do you think that this will be good enough for my scared daughter and her root canals.

Answer
Hi Esther,

At age 3, any dental treatment can be traumatic. Unless your daughter is extrememly well behaved, a local anesthetic is probably not enough to do a good job on the root canals. If she is fearful, it will be hard on your daughter as well as the dentist and the treatment will not end up as successful as it could be. Sorry to give you the bad news.

Gary Backlund DMD, MSD