Is a Tooth Infection Dangerous?

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My pediatric dentist wants to do a kids root canal on my daughter. I think he called it a pulpotomy on my daughter. Is that really necessary? I mean the tooth is going to fall out anyway.

Dina

Dear Dina,

A pulpotomy is a child’s version of a root canal treatment. If your daughter’s tooth is a molar, then it will be important to save that tooth. It will need to stay in her mouth until she is about twelve years old. Otherwise the other teeth will shift or tip into the empty space. That will throw off her bite. Which, in turn, means that you will definitely be spending money on some braces later.

You don’t want to leave the infection, but it will spread without treatment. That will turn into a dental emergency. When a tooth infection is left untreated it can become life threatening. People still die from untreated tooth infections every year. The infection can spread to the heart, lungs, or even her brain.

I know you’re probably worried about her having a bad experience at the dentist. I would ask your dentist to use dental sedation. That will keep her completely relaxed throughout the procedure.

This blog is brought to you by the friendly pediatric dentists in Lafayette.