Tackling Your Dental Treatment Plan

While many people associate root canal therapy with an older demographic, some kids may need to undergo this procedure if they fracture a tooth, have tooth sensitivity, and so on. If a child is very young, he or she may only need to undergo a pulpotomy, where infected nerves and tissues are removed. But what do you do if your child's new adult teeth are damaged? Take a look at how regenerative endodontics could help.

What is regenerative endodontic therapy?

When a child injures an adult tooth—enough for the pulp to be exposed—a dentist will usually perform a root canal and end with apexification, or the creation of a calcified barrier at the apex of the tooth's root. Apexification strengthens and hardens the root end and closes the canal. The downside of the procedure is that the tooth's roots may not continue to develop. With regenerative endodontic therapy, however, the dentist tries to revive the tooth's necrotic tissue by inserting healthy tissue. The hope of this procedure is that the tooth's root can continue to grow.

How does it work?

The dentist will perform the usual root canal therapy, but instead of filling the pulp chamber with a biologically inert substance, he or she will fill it with live tissue, like platelet rich fibrin. Like root canal therapy, regenerative endodontics is usually performed over a series of appointments.

Why isn't this therapy as well-known as a the standard root canal?

Even though Dr. B. W. Hermann started similar therapies in 1952, the technology behind the procedure is still considered relatively new since dentists and researchers are still learning a lot about tissue engineering, gene therapy, stem cells, etc. But the American Association of Endodontists (AAE) has been trying to establish this therapy with continual research, best practice methods, and public awareness.

Who is Good Candidate?

If you think you'd like your child to undergo this kind of therapy, you'll want to make sure they're a good candidate. Here are some potential qualifications:

• Canal obturation has failed (obturation is the part of the root canal procedure where the dentist seals off every possible entry of the canal system with a filling).

• Other options (apexification, partial pulpotomy, etc.) have been given poor prognoses by the dentist.

• Your child has necrotic pulp and an immature tooth root.

• Your child isn't allergic to any antibiotics or other medications needed.

If your child's tooth injury warrants a root canal therapy, make sure you cover all your options and ask your dentist about regenerative endodontics. Contact a clinic like Dodson Endodontics for more information.