Aa
root canal for dead tooth?
My 4 year old has discolored front tooth. We first ignored it, but nonetheless visited a dentist this week. He said the kid must have fallen down, had a crack in the tooth, and then the tooth tuned dead.... the discoloration is due to blood/infection. The dentist never took any X-ray.
My spouse thinks that there might be a crack in the tooth. But the discoloration is due to the medicine that she gave the kid since he was sick around the same time.
Anyways, the dentist is recommending root canal and says that if we leave this tooth untouched, it can spread infection, and may affect the tooth which will grow in the next set. He claims that he can perform root canal without local anesthesia since it is dead tooth after all, and root canal won't cause pain.
I am not sure whether root canal is the way to go. Mainly because -
1. The dentist never took X-ray
2. I am not convinced that root canal won't cause any pain
3. I think there may be less intrusive solution available.
Please let me know you opinions. Thanks.
My spouse thinks that there might be a crack in the tooth. But the discoloration is due to the medicine that she gave the kid since he was sick around the same time.
Anyways, the dentist is recommending root canal and says that if we leave this tooth untouched, it can spread infection, and may affect the tooth which will grow in the next set. He claims that he can perform root canal without local anesthesia since it is dead tooth after all, and root canal won't cause pain.
I am not sure whether root canal is the way to go. Mainly because -
1. The dentist never took X-ray
2. I am not convinced that root canal won't cause any pain
3. I think there may be less intrusive solution available.
Please let me know you opinions. Thanks.
Thanks for your responses. I am in the process of finding better dentist. Will keep you posted :)
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Does the tooth look like it may be slightly higher than the rest or below the occlusion of the rest of the teeth?
Some medications may cause discoloration of the teeth, but then such discoloration would be showing on most of the teeth. Examples would be tetracycline medication, also too much fluoride.
Hmmm, genetical defect during development may too cause discoloration and malformation of enamel, dentin - but than again it would show in more than one tooth.
A) I would seek a second opinion.
B) If you do decide to go ahead with current dentist, I would suggest pressuring him into using anesthesia. Once again, there is a guess whenever the pulp is dead or not. Make sure that he uses topical first (for at least a minute), then followed by local anesthesia. Not a lot of dentists happy to use topical anesthesia first, BUT it makes patients feel so much easier and especially for a child not feeling the poke of a needle.
All in all, I would suggest to seek second opinion where dentist would actually take x-rays.