My son is 2.8 years old. He fell down and broke his front tooth in half. The lower portion has chipped off and his nerve is exposed. Initially he had pain but now it's just when he bites something continuously from that tooth that he has discomfort. He has no other problems and allows me to brush his teeth (leaving the broken one which I clean with my finger). He can drink cold without any discomfort. I consulted a dentist and he has advised a root canal to remove the nerve. This can be done under conscious sedation or GA. But this will leave his tooth brittle and it can break. I request for advise on this and if there is any chance that I can avoid the root canal. Thanking you.

Dr. Dwij KothariDentist2yrs exp

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You should go with your dentist's advice. As he is nearly 3 years old only it takes atleast 4 more year to get permanent tooth and in meanwhile if he will get any infection it will hamper his permanent tooth formation. So I advice atleast go for RCT. And it should be done under consciousness only. Don't choose GA. There are Pedodontist who can manage child Better. 

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Dr. Ajinkya SawantDentist6yrs exp

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Hello, I am a pediatric dentist practising in Mumbai. I would strongly recommend that a root canal is required for the tooth followed by a crown which will help in maintaining the function of the tooth. If the tooth is extracted it might impair the speech of the child. Thank you. Hope my suggestion is helpful. 

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Dr. Amit YadavDentist13yrs exp

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mr Naheed ur son is just 2.8years old. so the treatment is called as pulpotomy not a root canal treatment. and dnt worry for the brittleness fir the tooth as eventually it will shed for a permanent tooth. bt treatment is necessary as trauma might lead to some pus formation. so go for the pulpotomy.  

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Dr. Sakshi SharmaDentist3yrs exp

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The dentist you consulted has given you the correct advice. Most trauma cases need a root canal treatment (RCT). Also, you need to understand that since your child is just 2.8 years old, his permanent front teeth have not erupted; and this trauma has occurred in his milk tooth. In view of this fact, the root canal therapy that he would have to undergo will actually be a pulpectomy and not a full-fledged RCT. It will be done under anaesthesia, as already told to you by your dentist, and there would be no discomfort or pain during the procedure. As far as the question of the tooth becoming brittle is concerned, you have to take care that for about 3-4 years, until the permanent front tooth erupts, the child does not bite on anything hard. Like this, you will be able to preserve the tooth for long after the pulpectomy and the yet-to-come permanent incisor will also be unaffected. For more specific advice, and prescriptions, kindly consult me privately on Lybrate. 

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Dr. Shrey KundraDentist6yrs exp

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Hi lybrate-user, Thats sad that such a small kid has to undergo a dental procedure. But any ways dentistry these days is painfree. It can be done under local anesthesia given the child co-operates. If you try to skip this procedure it might lead to bone infection and then spoil the permanent teeth beneath. I would suggest you to get the procedure done even if the pain vanishes. And you can get cosmetic tooth build up done after the Pulpectomy (Root canal in children) is done. 

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Dr. Puja BansalDentist18yrs exp

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hello, from the above description, it seems that due to trauma the nerve has been opened. this could lead to swelling and pus. as he is just 2.8 years old, to avoid going through the pain during root canal treatment, it is advisable to get it done under conscious sedation or GA. After root canal treatment go for a splint crown over the tooth as this will save the tooth from fracture. 

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Dr. Harshavardhan TetalaDentist8yrs exp

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Don't worry madam go for root canal treatment and replaced with cap so that it protects the teeth. 

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Dr. Piyusha S PatilDentist10yrs exp

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it will require root canal treatment.there no problem in getting it done....as the child is young the tooth has to stay for next 4 to 5 years at least.doing it under sedation or GA is not compulsory....you can get it done under local anesthesia also.just that the kid won't cooperate and requires holding him 

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Dr. Isha MalhotraDentist13yrs exp

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Well you can try applying little sensitivity paste over the tooth for two weeks. If pain still persists. Kindly visit dentist for necessary treatment. 

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Dr. Sahil SinghDentist7yrs exp

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Yes it can be done under sedation or under local anaesthesia depending on the patient. After pulpectomy (rct for kids but its little different) stainless steel crowns can be fixed. There id no chance to avoid treatment and it will be too early to remove a tooth. 

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