Your child may have had an accident while riding his or her bike or practicing the balance beam during gymnastics class. Perhaps candy bars are your child’s weakness, and now she has a cavity because of them. If your child is experiencing discomfort in his or her tooth, a root canal indeed could save your child’s tooth.

For any baby, sucking is a natural instinct. From sucking bottles to sucking fingers, a baby can find comfort in this behavior, and so can a toddler. However, when your baby has “grown up”—or has reached preschool age—this is when “thumb sucking” can be a real problem. Not only can it draw negative attention in a social situation but also it might negatively affect the outcome of your child’s teeth.

Your daredevil child has tried to pull his “Evel Knievel” stunt again—only this time, his bike didn’t quite clear that large tree stump. Now, his front tooth has been damaged or even knocked out. Maybe your child’s tooth simply has decayed and needs attention. In either situation, the tooth can be saved; your children’s dentist will recommend that your child simply undergo a pediatric root canal. 

You may be tempted to leave your child in her crib with her favorite bottle overnight: She stays full and happy, and you stay happy because you don’t have to get up in the middle of the night to feed her. However, you may actually be causing her tooth to decay in the process.

In the event that your child experiences a serious dental emergency, even if it occurs over night or during the weekend, don’t hesitate to contact a children’s emergency dentist as quickly as possible. A pediatric dentist understands that time is of the essence when an emergency involved your children, and that’s why you can always contact the office if the need arises.

Just like adults, some children are stricken with real fear when it is time to go to the dentist. In fact, the feelings of anxiety and fear tend to be magnified for a child who is unfamiliar with the sights, sounds, and feelings of the dental office. To some degree, this fear can be managed when the parent and the dental team work together to build the child’s trust and confidence. However, when the child is unable to cope with her anxiety, or when the planned dental procedure is expected to be particularly lengthy, it may be necessary to tap into additional resources.

Some parents may have apprehension about their children’s first visit to the dentist, but there’s no need for concern about the initial experience with a pediatric dentist. Your son or daughter should not experience any discomfort at that first appointment.