Root canal and crown on baby tooth?!
Question: Root canal and crown on baby tooth.?
My daughter (she's 9) has a severe cavity in the last molar on her left side. It's a baby tooth. The dentist said the adult tooth would come in at about age 11 or 12. The dentist isn't sure if the cavity goes down to the root or not, so she's going to start with trying to do the filling. However, if the cavity is deep, she may need to do what she called a "modified root canal" and a crown. She said extraction should be considered as a last resort.
Is it worth doing this on a baby tooth.? I understand that with extraction, the existing teeth might shift. However, my daughter has already been referred to an orthodontist for work they expect to start when she is 11 or 12. So would it matter terribly if the teeth shifted in that time since she will need braces anyway.?
I'm not sure what to do and I don't know if putting her thru the "modified root canal" is worth it or if we should just have the tooth pulled -- given that the filling cannot be done after all.
Are root canals on baby teeth a guaranteed fix to the problem or is it possible there may still be an issue later with that same tooth.?
Any advice or suggestions are appreciated. Thanks!Health Question & Answer
Is it worth doing this on a baby tooth.? I understand that with extraction, the existing teeth might shift. However, my daughter has already been referred to an orthodontist for work they expect to start when she is 11 or 12. So would it matter terribly if the teeth shifted in that time since she will need braces anyway.?
I'm not sure what to do and I don't know if putting her thru the "modified root canal" is worth it or if we should just have the tooth pulled -- given that the filling cannot be done after all.
Are root canals on baby teeth a guaranteed fix to the problem or is it possible there may still be an issue later with that same tooth.?
Any advice or suggestions are appreciated. Thanks!Health Question & Answer
Answers:
I think it would be worth it to try and save the tooth. If it was my daughter I would save the tooth. It is very likely that after the root canal is done on the baby tooth it would be fine. Only in a small percentage of cases does tooth need to be extracted later.
****The modified root canal would not be painful. The dentist may be referring to what is called a pulpotomy procedure. This removes the infection from the tooth. In many cases baby teeth do not require a complete root canal and have an excellent success rate. In my experience extracting a tooth is the most painful and traumatic procedure for a child. Not a root canal. Again if it was my child I would opt for saving the tooth.Health Question & Answer
****The modified root canal would not be painful. The dentist may be referring to what is called a pulpotomy procedure. This removes the infection from the tooth. In many cases baby teeth do not require a complete root canal and have an excellent success rate. In my experience extracting a tooth is the most painful and traumatic procedure for a child. Not a root canal. Again if it was my child I would opt for saving the tooth.Health Question & Answer
My opinion is not to have the root canal/ crown...way too expensive. You could put a down payment on a car or redo your bathroom for what you'd be putting into one tiny tooth that will not be there much longer.Health Question & Answer
It sounds to me like your dentist wants 2009 to be the year she gets her BMW...
It seems a bit excessive to me, so I would get a second opinion. That would cover your bases.
Good luck!Health Question & Answer
It seems a bit excessive to me, so I would get a second opinion. That would cover your bases.
Good luck!Health Question & Answer
see different dentist, this one quack, rip off, very badHealth Question & Answer
the tooth needs to be pulled, nothing else, i agree with the jap woman, your dentist is nutsHealth Question & Answer
Seems your worried about the cost more than the
result. An unchecked dental carie can lead to other
problems such as abcess, and or major dental
infection. The quick fix is better than nothing but
a "modified canal" is really nothing more than a deep
drilling and filling. It's true purpose is to make patent
the dental surface and to check further decay by
sealing and restoring a surface used for chewing.
Maybe you should discuss the "terminology"
used by your Dentist and look at the alternatives
to such major repair on a tooth that has such a
limited lifetime. On the other hand do you know
what it feels to have a pain and swelling from
a dental abcess.? You judge the problem by
what you're willing to endure,the pain to your
wallet or your child in Pain.
DOCHealth Question & Answer
result. An unchecked dental carie can lead to other
problems such as abcess, and or major dental
infection. The quick fix is better than nothing but
a "modified canal" is really nothing more than a deep
drilling and filling. It's true purpose is to make patent
the dental surface and to check further decay by
sealing and restoring a surface used for chewing.
Maybe you should discuss the "terminology"
used by your Dentist and look at the alternatives
to such major repair on a tooth that has such a
limited lifetime. On the other hand do you know
what it feels to have a pain and swelling from
a dental abcess.? You judge the problem by
what you're willing to endure,the pain to your
wallet or your child in Pain.
DOCHealth Question & Answer
Tough one but I would not pay for a root canal and crown on a baby tooth. I doubt when the adult tooth comes in you will have any problems if that is what you are asking. I agree with the dentist saying extraction is the last resort but that's only on an adult tooth. I would see another dentist for a second opinion. I doubt insurance would even cover this on a baby tooth - that's something you need to look into as well. You could easily spend over $1,000 on a tooth that will fall out in a year or less.Health Question & Answer