Find Out the Truth! Does Pulp Therapy Hurt?

In some ways, such as survival, fear can be a valuable feeling. It’s what keeps most humans from attempting clearly dangerous actions that will lead to pain. However, sometimes a fearful perception keeps you from positive things as well. For instance, if your child needs pulp therapy, you may be afraid that treatment will cause more pain, but is that reality? Does pulp therapy hurt? What can your pediatric dentist do to reduce discomfort and anxiety?

Is Pulp Therapy Painful?

Often, but not always, kids experience tooth pain prior to pulp therapy, which can increase fear that treatment will only hurt worse. But the truth is that this procedure doesn’t involve pain at all. In fact, its purpose is to relieve your child’s discomfort!

In pulp therapy, your pediatric dentist removes the infected tooth structure as well as the tooth’s pulp, where the nerve is located. After the remaining chamber is cleaned and sealed, the tooth is restored, usually with a dental crown to preserve what’s left and allow your child to continue using that tooth.

How the Pediatric Dentist Ensures Your Child’s Comfort

Before your pediatric dentist starts pulp therapy, they will provide multiple options to keep your child at ease and completely comfortable throughout the procedure.

Local Anesthesia

A local anesthetic numbs the area, which can remove any pain your child may be having. It can also allow your pediatric dentist to handle the nerve without causing more irritation or discomfort for your child.

Sedation Options

Your pediatric dentist should offer sedation choices and recommend the one that will best help your child relax and have a more positive experience in the chair. Options can range from mild nitrous oxide to complete general anesthesia and can take the anxiety and discomfort out of the procedure for your child.

Compassionate Care

As a pediatric dentist, your provider has undergone specialized training for working with kids. They are experts in helping children under the age of 18, and they know how to ease young patients’ fear. Being in a fun, caring environment can also give your child more peace of mind, making the whole experience better.

Why You Shouldn’t Put Off Pulp Therapy

If you’ve been delaying seeking treatment because you’re worried that pulp therapy could hurt your child, think about this. Over time, dental issues only get worse without intervention, meaning that your child’s tooth will only continue hurting or progress to the point where the tooth needs to be extracted. The infection could even spread to other teeth, leading to more pain and damage.

Your child doesn’t need to suffer, so take care of the problem with pulp therapy as soon as possible. Your pediatric dentist will make every effort to keep your child comfortable physically and emotionally.

About the Practice

As board-certified pediatric dentists at Coastal Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. James Forester and Dr. Natalie Vander Kam have years of experience and training under the belts. For sedation, we are proud to offer nitrous oxide, oral conscious, IV, and general anesthesia sedation, which enables us to treat and accommodate everyone’s needs. We strive to make each patient comfortable from the beginning to the end of their appointment. To schedule an appointment, call the San Luis Obispo office at 805-592-2020 or visit our Contact Us page here.