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, often 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 will place some 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 fracture. So it is important to have the tooth properly restored by your dentist.