Why Primary (Baby) Teeth are Vital for Your Child’s Future Smile
Many parents believe that because baby teeth eventually fall out, cavities in primary teeth do not matter. In reality, primary teeth serve as crucial space-maintainers for permanent adult teeth, facilitate proper speech development, and enable healthy digestion through efficient chewing.
What is a Pediatric Pulpotomy?
When decay in a child’s molar reaches the inner pulp chamber, it can cause severe nighttime pain and swelling. Rather than extracting the tooth prematurely (which causes surrounding teeth to drift and block adult teeth), a pediatric dentist performs a Pulpotomy.
Often referred to as a "baby tooth root canal," a pulpotomy gently removes only the infected coronal pulp inside the crown portion while preserving the healthy root pulp. The chamber is treated with a soothing antibacterial medication and sealed with a protective pediatric crown, allowing the baby tooth to remain safely in place until natural shedding around age 10–12.
Tips for Lifelong Pediatric Oral Health
- Schedule your child’s first dental visit as soon as their first tooth erupts or by their 1st birthday.
- Supervise twice-daily brushing with fluoride toothpaste until age 7 or 8.
- Limit sugary juices, sticky candies, and nighttime bottle feeding in bed.
Credible Dental Clinic welcomes children in a fun, gentle, and fear-free environment designed to build lifelong positive dental habits.