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Signs Your Child Might Need a Root Canal

Child Recieving A Dental Checkup

Did you know that sometimes children also need root canal therapy? That’s because your child’s baby and permanent teeth can also get infected, just like an adult’s. While root canals are commonly associated with adult dental care, some circumstances require a root canal. At Smiling Kids Pediatric Dentistry in Indianapolis, we care about your child’s oral health, and we’re here to discuss the signs to look out for to indicate that your child needs a root canal.

Reasons Why Your Child May Need a Root Canal 

Root canals aren’t just for adults – in fact, pediatric root canal therapy is considered one of the best ways to help treat a child’s infected tooth, especially if the tooth’s gotten so infected that fillings can’t save it. A tooth infection alone can seriously harm your child’s oral health, causing sinus problems, oral pain, and tooth loss. That’s why when they’re needed, root canals can help save the tooth and help cure your child’s pains. 

But what signs do you look out for when your child needs a root canal? Here are a few warning signs that your child may need pediatric root canal therapy:

  • Sensitivity: Tooth sensitivity is the first warning sign you should look out for with your child. If your child starts complaining about hot foods or beverages, saying that their teeth feel funny or hurt, it may be an infected tooth. 
  • Tender, Swollen Gums: If you notice signs of swelling or tenderness along their gums, it’s a sign of bacterial infection. 
  • Swollen Lymph Nodes: If your child has swollen lymph nodes, then it means that their body is fighting off a tooth infection.
  • Bad Taste and Breath: If they have an infected tooth, sometimes a small sac of pus can form along the area, called an abscess. If the abscess bursts, it can cause a bad taste in their mouth. 
  • Chronic and Severe Pain: An untreated tooth infection can cause a throbbing, persistent toothache, which can exasperate and cause further problems. One of the biggest issues that can come from an untreated infection is a sinus infection, which causes dull aches throughout your child’s nose, jaw, and forehead. 

In these cases, a root canal treatment is the only way to resolve their pain and protect your child from further infection. Having your child visit their dentist is important because your child may not experience all of the symptoms listed above or may not even feel anything wrong. Giving them regular checkups helps detect problems before they become worse. 

Visit Smiling Kids Pediatric Dentistry For Pediatric Root Canal Treatment

At Smiling Kids Pediatric Dentistry in Indianapolis, our pediatric dentists can help identify and treat infections before your child ever experiences them. We offer kid-friendly amenities and dental solutions that work to keep your child’s oral health in excellent shape. If you would like to learn more about root canal therapy for your child, then make sure to visit our office in Indianapolis, IN, and call us at (317) 580-9199 to speak with Dr. Swati Singh.