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Injuries in Children
An injured immature tooth may need one of the following procedures to improve the chances
of saving the tooth:
- Apexogenesis
This procedure encourages the root to continue development as the pulp is healed.
Soft tissue is covered with medication to encourage growth. The tip of the root (apex) will continue
to close as the child gets older. In turn, the walls of the root canal will thicken. If the pulp heals,
no additional treatment will be necessary. The more mature the root becomes, the better the chance to
save the tooth.
- Apexification
In this case, the unhealthy pulp is removed. The doctor places medication into the root
to help a hard tissue form near the root tip. This hardened tissue provides a barrier for the root canal
filling. At this point, the root canal walls will not continue to develop, making the tooth susceptible
to fractures. So it is important to have the tooth properly restored by your dentist.
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