Toggle navigation


331 S. Moorpark Road Thousand Oaks, CA 91361 (805) 557-0100

  • Facebook
  • blog

Request an Appointment

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Our Office
  • Services
  • New Patients
  • Patient Education
  • Testimonials
  • Smile Gallery

Saving a Diseased Primary Tooth Could Benefit Future Oral Health

  • Blog Home
  • Oral+Health
  • Saving a Diseased Primary Tooth Could Benefit Future Oral Health

Saving a Diseased Primary Tooth Could Benefit Future Oral Health

By Jennifer L. Graves-Nagel, D.D.S.
September 23, 2014
Category: Oral Health
Tags: tooth decay  
SavingaDiseasedPrimaryToothCouldBenefitFutureOralHealth

Dentists go to great lengths to save an adult permanent tooth. Even though restoration technology is incredibly advanced, none can completely replace the biological function of natural teeth. Treating a diseased tooth to preserve it is a high priority in dentistry.

It would seem, though, that a child’s primary (baby) tooth might not warrant the same treatment. Since the tooth eventually detaches from the jaw to make way for a permanent tooth, why save it?

It is worth the effort, because primary teeth provide more than a chewing function: they also serve as guides for their permanent successors. When they’re lost prematurely, the permanent teeth may not come in correctly, leading to a malocclusion (poor bite). Other areas of development, like speech and dental bone growth, may suffer as well from the longer time gap between the premature loss and the permanent tooth eruption.

Saving an infected primary tooth should be considered, especially if significant time remains in its lifespan. Due to differences between primary and permanent teeth, though, the treatment approach isn’t the same. For example, the body gradually absorbs the roots of a primary tooth (a process called resorption) as the permanent tooth beneath erupts applying pressure to the primary roots (this is what enables its eventual detachment). Dentists must factor this process into their diagnosis and treatment plan for a primary tooth.

The level of treatment may vary depending on how deep the infection has advanced. If the decay is limited to the tooth’s outer layers and only partially affects the pulp, the innermost layer of the tooth, a dentist may remove as much soft decay as possible, apply an antibacterial agent for any remaining hardened infection, and then restore the tooth with filling materials.

For deeper infection, the dentist may remove some or all of the pulp, disinfect and clean the area, and then fill and seal the empty space with a filling. A filling material like zinc oxide/eugenol paste should be used that’s capable of resorption by the body to coincide with the natural root resorption. After treatment, the tooth should continue to be monitored for changes in appearance or gum swelling, just in case the infection returns or advances.

Although it may seem counterintuitive, treating a primary tooth as you would its successor is worth the effort. Your child will reap the health benefits, both now and long after the primary tooth is gone.

If you would like more information on endodontic treatment for children, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Root Canal Treatment for Children’s Teeth.”

0 Comment(s) Permalink

Comments:






Subscribe to our RSS Feed

Archive:

  • 2014
      • December (3)
        • Did You Know? Matinee Idol James Dean Had False Front Teeth!
        • Determining the Right Whitening Approach is Key to Brightening a Dull Smile
        • Follow in Vanna White's Footsteps and Replace That Missing Back Tooth
      • November (2)
        • What Athletes Have to Tell Us About Oral Health
        • Fixing Adult Teeth Is No Mission Impossible - Just Ask Tom Cruise!
      • October (2)
        • Answers to Expectant Mothers' Frequent Questions
        • A Wake-Up Call in Major League Baseball
      • September (3)
        • Saving a Diseased Primary Tooth Could Benefit Future Oral Health
        • Chew on This, Not That
        • Braces Are No Hurdle for Olympic Track Star
      • August (3)
        • Does Your Toothbrush Need A Cleaning?
        • Braces: A Rite of Passage Even for Hollywood Kids
        • Occasional Tongue Redness may be Irritating but not a Serious Health Issue
      • July (2)
        • TV Wellness Guru Jillian Michaels Discusses Breaking Her Two Front Teeth
        • Frequently Asked Questions about Gummy Smiles
      • June (2)
        • How Dental Implants Saved Taylor Hicks' Smile
        • Who's Afraid of Dental Implant Surgery?
      • May (2)
        • Taylor Hicks: I Should Have Worn a Mouthguard!
        • Welcome to Our Blog

Tags

  • celebrity smiles (9)
  • mouthguards (1)
  • dental implants (2)
  • gummy smile (1)
  • dental injury (1)
  • crown (1)
  • oral health (3)
  • braces (3)
  • brushing teeth (1)
  • oral hygiene (1)
  • orthodontic treatment (2)
  • Nutrition (1)
  • tooth decay (1)
  • oral cancer (1)
  • pregnancy (1)
  • bridge (1)
  • dental implant (1)
  • teeth whitening (1)
  • smile makeover (1)
  • cosmetic dentistry (1)

Categories:

  • None (1)
  • Oral Health (11)
  • Dental Procedures (6)
  • GooglePlus

Our Location

Thousand Oaks, CA
Jennifer L. Graves-Nagel, D.D.S.
331 S. Moorpark Road
Thousand Oaks, CA 91361
(805) 557-0100
(805) 557-0200 fax
Office Hours
Monday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday: By Appointment
Saturday: By Appointment
Sunday: Closed
  • Home
  • Staff
  • Our Office
  • Services
  • New Patients
  • Patient Education
  • Copyright © MH Sub I, LLC dba Officite
  • Disclaimer
  • Patient Privacy
  • Site Map