Endodontic (Root canal) Therapy

Endodontic treatment can be done in adult (permanent) or baby (primary) teeth. Even though baby teeth eventually will fall out, your dentist will suggest fixing them unless they would normally fall out soon. Baby teeth are important for chewing and speaking. They also hold spaces for the permanent teeth that replace them. If your child loses a baby tooth too soon, neighboring teeth can move into the empty space. This could block the permanent tooth from coming in, or cause it to grow in tilted.

There are two kinds of endodontic treatment done on baby teeth. With vital pulp therapy, the tooth's pulp is removed from the crown of the tooth, but not from the root. In non-vital pulp therapy, also called root canal treatment, the pulp is removed from both the crown and the root. If these methods don't work, the tooth will be taken out.