Dentist Questions Root Canal

Is a root canal safe for a 3 year old?

My daughter has a deep rooted cavity, and her dentist has recommended a root canal. I am feeling a little skeptical since she is only 3 years old. Is this procedure safe for her?

15 Answers

Hello,

Unless your daugther has any issues with medications or anesthesia, it should be safe for her to have a root canal. It may be called a root canal, but it is not exactly the same procedure as a root canal on permanent tooth (adult tooth). Primary teeth (baby teeth) are more susceptible to to the need for a "root canal" because the center of their tooth is a lot bigger then a permanent tooth. That means that a cavity that requires a filling in an adult may require a "root canal" in a child. The other thing to consider is the honesty of the doctor. A 3 year old needing a "root canal" is something that can ruin your day and exhaust you emotionally as it is not exactly fun for adults, let alone a 3 year old. So if the doctor is recommending it, then chances are they really believe it is needed. Hope this helps.

My best to you!

William F. Scott IV, DMD
The procedure is safe but usually we don’t preform complete root canals on baby teeth.
What the dentist means is a "pulpotomy" which is the equivalent of a root canal but on a baby tooth. Make sure you understand why the cavity happened in the first place.
It is safe and will have the benefit of maintaining the space needed for her permanent teeth.
Yes! We save baby teeth for several reasons. They help with speech, chewing, aesthetics. They also guide the growth of the permanent teeth. Taking out the nerve will preserve the life of the baby tooth, helping with all those things.
Because of the nature of the child being so young these procedures are best done by a child specialist called a pedo dentist and are not root canals but are called pulpotomies. The idea is to preserve the Deciduous in order to maintain space until the permanent teeth erupt.
The procedure of removing the infected nerve tissue is called a pulpotomy on a child. It is very similar to an adult root canal. It is a very safe procedure and if your daughter has been diagnosed with a need for one, then the only way to fix the tooth is to do it or extract it. It becomes painful if you do nothing....
It is probably the only solution for her troubled teeth, it’s safe. Discuss the matter with a pedodontist. Ask all pertinent questions.
The procedure is actually a pulpotomy, this done on pedo teeth. The decay is removed from the cavity and access is made into the pulp chamber. The baby tooth is filled and a stainless steel crown is placed. This is quite standard. If the tooth has abscessed, you will have to get it pulled. The main issue is always child management rather than the dentistry.

Thanks
Yes it is. This procedure is for her baby tooth that will eventually be replaced by a permanent tooth in the future. It is a simple procedure that will mummify the pulp tissue and keep the tooth in function until it is ready to be replace. Typically, RCT in baby teeth is not as complicated as the permanent teeth that has more complex anatomy.
The procedure is safe, and she needs the deciduous tooth, depending which one it is, at least until age 6!
Yes.
3 year olds have only deciduous or baby teeth we can only do root canals on permanent teeth. What your dentist was referring to is what is called a pulpotomy as the name implies we remove the pulp which is the nerve and blood vessels from the baby tooth because of deep decay that has reached the pulp. The best sppace maintainer for the underlying permanent teeth is to maintain the baby tooth in place as long as possible until the permanent teeth can erupt at the proper time. My greater concern is why is a 3 year old in need of a "root canal" dietary concerns are a must to prevent cavities and regular checkups are needed as well so that cavities do not get to the state that more aggresive treatment is needed.
The procedure should be safe. I would be inclined to get a second opinion. It would depend on which tooth it is and how long she should retain the primary tooth. Extraction and the placement of a space maintainer might be an option. Good Luck.


Mark Johnson
Not a root canal for a 3-year-old.