Paediatric dentist for root canal

Jen Barber

My 9 year old son has a large cavity in one of his adult molars. He hadn't complained of any pain, so it was a surprise to find out about it.
Our options are removal or root canal and I'd prefer that he kept the tooth.
I've only found one dentist so far who lists root canals for children, but there's a six month waiting list.
Are there any dentists in Dublin who carry this out? Due to his age, I'm really hopeful that a paediatric dentist could do this. It's going to be a scary experience for him, he'll be very nervous and I want to try to make the whole experience as gentle as it possibly can be for him.
We're located in Dublin 15 but if I can't find anyone near us, we could get to somewhere that can take really good care of him.
How do I go about finding such a dentist? Is there any reference of dentists & specialties?
I'm lost!

Oral Surgeon

Jen Barber wrote: »

My 9 year old son has a large cavity in one of his adult molars. He hadn't complained of any pain, so it was a surprise to find out about it.
Our options are removal or root canal and I'd prefer that he kept the tooth.
I've only found one dentist so far who lists root canals for children, but there's a six month waiting list.
Are there any dentists in Dublin who carry this out? Due to his age, I'm really hopeful that a paediatric dentist could do this. It's going to be a scary experience for him, he'll be very nervous and I want to try to make the whole experience as gentle as it possibly can be for him.
We're located in Dublin 15 but if I can't find anyone near us, we could get to somewhere that can take really good care of him.
How do I go about finding such a dentist? Is there any reference of dentists & specialties?
I'm lost!

This is likely to be his first molar tooth??

I'd give strong consideration to having that tooth removed at this stage for a number of reasons;

A molar root canal will never last his lifetime. So you pay the money, have the treatment, maybe have it crowned and it will likely fail in his 20s 30s etc. At that point he will need it removed and have a gap that may need a denture/bridge/implant....

If it is removed at this age, it is highly likely that the second molar tooth behind it will erupt into a more mesial position and fully/ nearly fully adopt the space of the first molar tooth. This can only be acheived if the second molar has yet to erupt (likely now). If the first molar is taken out in a few years time then the opportunity has been lost (the second molar tooth may tilt into the gap but not erupt into it.....)

You should have a frank discussion with your dentist, sometimes saving the tooth is not the best option......

Jen Barber

Thank you for the reply. So translate into layman's terms, you're saying that if the tooth is removed, further molar teeth will fill the gap?
The dentist who suggested root canal over extraction mentioned that rooth canal was less 'traumatic' for children, when I asked if it wasn't easier for him to just remove the tooth. I've never had a root canal, but as it's always mentioned in a kind of fearful tone, I assumed that it would be much worse than an extraction.
I know all kids are nervous, but he even struggled with the X-ray; it caused him to gag so much that they had to stop trying and I had to bring him to another clinic that could take one externally.
I'll bring him to my own local dentist and ask her advice (it was a primary school / HSE appointment where this was picked up). This is all unfamiliar ground for me, so thanks again for the reply.

Oral Surgeon

Jen Barber wrote: »

Thank you for the reply. So translate into layman's terms, you're saying that if the tooth is removed, further molar teeth will fill the gap?
The dentist who suggested root canal over extraction mentioned that rooth canal was less 'traumatic' for children, when I asked if it wasn't easier for him to just remove the tooth. I've never had a root canal, but as it's always mentioned in a kind of fearful tone, I assumed that it would be much worse than an extraction.
I know all kids are nervous, but he even struggled with the X-ray; it caused him to gag so much that they had to stop trying and I had to bring him to another clinic that could take one externally.
I'll bring him to my own local dentist and ask her advice (it was a primary school / HSE appointment where this was picked up). This is all unfamiliar ground for me, so thanks again for the reply.

Yes.

Your dentist should make an assessment of his mouth and x-ray and most likely the second molar will be buried at this point and if the first molar is removed then the second molar should move and erupt into the space left by the first molar.

It depends on what you call traumatic...
An extraction would take 5-10 mins approx

A molar root canal would take a few hours over one or two visits, need multiple x-rays etc...

If done correctly, neither should be painful.

You would do well to get an endodontist to treat a jumpy 9 year well and equally do well to get a paediatiric dentist to do a molar root canal to an endodontists standards....