Pulpotomy Specialist

What do I do if my child has a toothache?

Mouth pain can be caused by a number of things beyond your son or daughter’s teeth, including earaches and sinus infections. That said, if your child is suffering from mouth pain, Dr. Guerrero is here to help. She can determine whether or not the pain is tooth related so it can be resolved as quickly and effectively as possible.

If the pain is caused by a tooth, it’s likely that your son or daughter has a cavity that has reached the pulp inside their tooth. The core of every tooth is a pulp made up of tissue and nerves. As a result, it’s very sensitive. When a cavity reaches the pulp, it doesn’t just cause your son or daughter pain, but it can also damage the pulp itself.

Fortunately, Dr. Guerrero can treat the situation — and put a stop to the pain — with a pulpotomy.

What is a pulpotomy?

A pulpotomy is a common pediatric dental procedure. It’s designed to access the part of your child’s tooth that’s causing them pain and remove that damaged pulp. Dr. Guerrero can offer whatever type of sedation is best for your son or daughter to help them stay calm during the procedure.

After Dr. Guerrero removes the damaged, painful pulp from your child’s tooth, she’ll replace it with a medicated filling and seal the tooth to protect it against further damage. This way, your child’s baby tooth can continue to function without causing them any further pain.

What’s the difference between a pulpotomy and a pulpectomy?

If this sounds familiar, it’s most likely because you had a root canal. A standard root canal includes a pulpectomy, or the removal of all of the pulp in your affected tooth. During a pulpotomy, however, Dr. Guerrero will only remove the affected pulp, leaving the rest of the healthy pulp within the tooth intact. This makes the treatment less invasive and easier on your child.

Pulpectomies are more common in adults because adult pulp has less blood flow. The pulp in your child’s tooth, however, has plenty of blood flow to thrive after part of it is removed.

If your child has a toothache, Dr. Geurrero offers a range of treatments to bring them relief. Don’t hesitate to call Dr. Cat & the Tooth Pediatric Dental Office or book your son or daughter’s appointment online.