Root Canal in Different Stages of Life: Addressing Age-Specific Concerns Amy Smith, January 8, 2024February 29, 2024 Worried about an upcoming root canal dental procedure? Not sure what this treatment entails in your present stage of life, and worried about potential side effects? While root canals are a common procedure for treating infected tooth pulp, it’s understandable to feel apprehensive. Fortunately, many skilled dentists in the area can provide a comfortable and efficient experience. If you’re also concerned about the long-term aesthetics of the treated tooth, consider consulting a cosmetic dentist del mar has to offer. They can discuss options for restoring the tooth’s natural appearance and function. Remember, open communication with your dentist is key to a smooth and successful root canal experience. If you said yes to either, don’t worry. A root canal extraction isn’t as nerve-wracking as it’s touted to be, especially with modern-day dental technology and anesthetics. For the uninitiated, a root canal is a dental treatment that involves the extraction of an inflamed or infected pulp in the teeth. This treatment is then followed up by disinfection, cleaning, and filling of the missing gap. In addition to taking care of your oral health with these tips, sometimes it is necessary to have a root canal procedure done if your tooth is deeply decayed or if there are orthodontic problems associated with your jaw. That said, there are some nuances in the treatment plan depending on your age that you have to know. For instance, older people may be concerned about their ability to chew and bite. Younger patients may worry about potential tooth growth anomalies. Whether it’s you or your loved one who’s set to have the procedure soon, we’ll clear out the air regarding this common and highly effective dental procedure. Root Canal Procedure For Children Diagnosis Children typically lose the bulk of their baby teeth by the ages of 7 to 12. However, sometimes these teeth can experience decay or damage that necessitates a root canal procedure before their expected timeline. Dentists have several ways to diagnose the need for a root canal in a child’s baby tooth. This includes the following: Periapical X-ray: Dentists use an X-ray beam to examine any anomalies in the root canal from the tooth crown. They’ll also identify signs of decay and damage. Pain Assessment: Dentists will ask a series of questions to determine any sensitivity problems of the teeth. These questions will touch on temperature sensitivities, pain intensity, and frequency of pain. Physical Inspection: Dentists may take a look at the teeth and gums themselves. There, they will note any cavities, discolourations, chips, swelling, and gum problems that may be present. Age-Specific Concerns Each deciduous tooth (or baby tooth) has an individual timeline of when they’re supposed to fall, but if that baby tooth falls earlier than its intended timeline, this could lead to bite and speech development problems. Specifically, premature loss of these teeth can lead to adjacent teeth drifting into space, causing overcrowding or misalignment of the jaw when the permanent teeth eventually emerge. The opposite is also true—if your deciduous teeth don’t fall off when they’re supposed to, this could lead to tooth impaction. This can further lead to permanent tooth damage and positioning problems. There are several reasons why children may need root canals. The most common suspects are: Improper hygiene Tooth injuries Poor eating habits If your child’s negative lifestyle habits persist, or if they have underlying dental concerns, this could warrant treatment of the root canal. Treatment The treatment will hinge on the type of concern your child is facing. In some cases, tooth extraction may be the necessary course of action. However, for operations performed on baby teeth, a pulpotomy may be more suitable as a start. This treatment will single out and drill the infected pulp, bleeding it. If it doesn’t bleed, they may perform a tooth extraction or a pulpotomy instead. The procedure of tooth extraction is similar to a pulpotomy at the start. Dentists will administer a dose of anesthetics to numb the patient’s mouth. Then, they’ll isolate the tooth that needs to be operated on with a dental dam. The dentist will open the tooth’s crown and subsequently remove the infected pulp using dental instruments. Once the pulp is fully removed, the dentist will clean and disinfect the affected area. They will then put a filling to protect the exposed tooth. Root Canal Procedure For Adults Diagnosis Similar to diagnosing children, diagnosing root canal problems in adults entails the following: X-ray: Helps identify any decay not seen visually. Pain assessment: Dentists will ask questions regarding pain sensitivity and the like. Dental history: Doctors will dive into your dental background. Percussion and palpation tests: Dentists will tap your gums and teeth for any sensitive pressure points. Pulp vitality tests: Dentists will determine if the pulp is decayed or still inflamed using electric pulp testers. Age-Specific Concerns Adults already have their main set of teeth, so they won’t have to worry about child-specific dental problems. Young adults generally are at the peak of their health. However, if you’re growing out your wisdom teeth and it’s causing overcrowding, it could cause the pulp roots of surrounding teeth to be damaged, causing the need for a root canal procedure. Older adults may face dental problems like age-related gum disease if they fail to take proper care of their teeth. Underlying health conditions like heart disease and diabetes and years of wear and tear may also worsen dental health and cause the need of root canal procedures. Treatment Root canal therapy for adults involves drilling the decayed tooth and removing the dental pulp. This pulp has nerves, connective tissue, and ample blood supply—cutting it off is crucial for delaying and eventually stopping the decay. After that, dentists will fill the hole on the tooth’s crown with a special filling. This mold hardens and makes it easier for the patient to bite and chew once they’re fully healed. Root Canal Procedure For Seniors Diagnosis Senior-aged patients are more prone to developing health problems, and dental health issues are not an exemption. From worn enamel to receding gums, elderly individuals are highly susceptible to risk factors that can cause tooth decay and a plethora of other conditions. As such, it’s important for dentists to undergo the right diagnosing procedure to clear out any suspicions. The diagnosing procedure is the same for seniors as it is for other age groups. A dentist will ask about your medical history and do a pain sensitivity checkup and a visual on the teeth. Then, they’ll do an X-ray and electric tests if needed. Age-Specific Concerns The two biggest concerns for elderly patients is the increased brittleness and dryness of the teeth. The body of aged individuals isn’t the same as it once was, and they’re more prone to decay and deterioration compared to their younger counterparts. This can cause treatment to be more sophisticated and longer in this age group. Furthermore, the presence of systemic health issues like heart disease and diabetes may add further considerations during the procedure. The weakened enamel surrounding the teeth may also cause tooth loss over time, which can increase the rate of infection quite drastically. Treatment Root canal treatment for seniors reflects that of young adults. Specifically, this dental treatment will entail the removal of the infected pulp and the filling and disinfecting of the tooth. But if the tooth decay is so severe, tooth extraction may be necessary. Gentler handling may be necessary as seniors tend to have more sensitive teeth. Duration of treatment may also be longer in senior-aged individuals to their body’s slower healing metabolism. But usually, post-procedure pain will not last for more than a week. Image Source: Freepik Share on FacebookTweetFollow usSave Health