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Yes, baby teeth sometimes need root canal treatment, and it's often the best way to protect your child's health. When decay or injury reaches the nerve of a baby tooth, it can cause severe inflammation or infection. In these situations, a children’s dentist may recommend a treatment such as a pulpotomy or pulpectomy to remove the damaged or infected tissue and save the tooth. This helps the baby tooth stay in place until the permanent tooth comes in. It's a common question of

You bite into something hard, feel a sudden crack, and your tongue finds a sharp, jagged edge. Panic sets in fast. Whether it hurts or not, a broken tooth always raises one urgent question: can your dentist actually save it? The good news is that many cracked teeth can be saved with prompt care. Depending on the damage, treatment may involve a filling, a crown, or a root canal. Acting quickly gives you the best chance of keeping your tooth. What Causes a Tooth to Break or Cra

"They're just baby teeth; they'll fall out anyway." You may have believed this. Yet in the dental chair, children often arrive with painful infections that began in neglected primary teeth. A deep cavity can interfere with the permanent tooth forming beneath it. In serious cases, a child may need a root canal or extraction. Here's why baby teeth deserve careful protection. Why Baby Teeth Are Important Primary teeth may be temporary, but they do far more than fill your child's

At our Scarborough clinic, we frequently meet patients who believe their toothache has resolved because the pain subsided. Regrettably, relief from discomfort does not indicate healing. In many cases, the infection continues to progress silently and unnoticed beneath the surface. An infected tooth cannot heal on its own, and delaying care often leads to complex treatment. When addressed early, a root canal can frequently preserve the natural tooth. This article explains the r

When a child loses a baby tooth early, parents wonder what comes next. Losing it too soon can let neighbouring teeth drift, crowding the space meant for the permanent tooth. Whether the tooth was lost to decay, injury, or an infection a root canal couldn't fix, a space maintainer may help. Here's what parents should know and when to act. What Is a Space Maintainer and How Does It Work? A space maintainer is a small, custom-made dental appliance that holds open the gap left by

Tooth pain, sensitivity, or decay may be what brings you to the dentist. After an examination and X-ray, you might hear three familiar terms– filling, crown, or root canal. They're not interchangeable, which is why it can be confusing to know which treatment you actually need. A 2026 study of international students at the University of Saskatchewan found that 40.4% of respondents disagreed or strongly disagreed that they had adequate knowledge to access dental care. The next

Losing a tooth can shake your confidence. Maybe it happened after an accident, a cracked tooth, or a tooth extraction, and now you're left with a gap and a lot of questions. How will my smile look? Will I be able to chew properly? How long will treatment take, what will it cost, and will the teeth around the gap be affected? The answer is–you don't need to live with the gap forever. With three proven missing tooth replacement options- a dental implant, a dental bridge, or a d

In Canada, parents don’t think their child’s dental health is unimportant or temporary. In fact, about 89.6% of Canadian children and youth aged 5 to 17 visit a dental professional within a 12-month period. However, even with regular dental visits, some children still experience cavities, orthodontic concerns, enamel problems, or other dental risks. This doesn’t mean parents are being negligent. Sometimes, it simply comes down to not having enough information about how often

For many Canadians, the cost of dentures can be a real concern. At Dentistry at Sullivan, one question our team hears often is, Does the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) cover dentures? Yes, eligible dentures are covered under the plan, but the amount covered and the treatment requirements depend on the type of denture, your eligibility, frequency limits and, in some cases, preauthorization. For example, the 2026 Dental Benefits Guide specifically says– standard complete den

Got a dental implant recently? The missing tooth is replaced, and your jaw gets the support it needs. But during recovery, you may notice some pain, swelling, minor bleeding, or discomfort. Healing doesn’t happen overnight, and it’s not the same for everyone. Your healing timeline can depend on how many implants you had, whether a tooth was extracted at the same time, whether you needed a bone graft, your overall health, and how your body responds to the procedure. Many peopl

When you lose a tooth, the changes don’t stop at your smile, chewing or bite. The jawbone that once held the tooth can also start to shrink. Your body is constantly breaking down old bones and forming new ones. After tooth loss, the loss of stimulation from the tooth root can change this balance. As time passes, the bone in the area may gradually be resorbed. It can affect the surrounding gums, neighbouring teeth, facial support, and some tooth-replacement options. For examp

It’s easy to think, “Maybe my child is not brushing properly.” But don’t be too quick to blame them. You’re not the only parent who follows a good brushing routine and is still dealing with childhood cavities. The Canadian Dental Association (CDA) describes early childhood tooth decay as a complex, multifactorial condition influenced by factors including diet, oral bacteria, the child’s individual susceptibility, and social determinants of health. So, if your child keeps get

Children's dental health can raise many questions for parents, especially when cavities develop despite regular brushing. Learning how flu oride protects young teeth can help families make informed decisions about prevention. During a dental visit, parents may hear their dentist recommend fluoride treatment to strengthen enamel and reduce cavity risk. Having an idea of what to expect can make these conversations easier and help parents feel more confident. How Was Fluoride's

Your child brushes twice a day and eats well, but cavities can still happen. About half of children aged 6–9 have a higher risk of tooth decay, especially if they’ve had cavities before, have dry mouth, snack often, brush erratically, wear braces, have exposed roots or gum recession, or have spots that are hard to clean properly. Professional fluoride treatment for kids can give these teeth an added layer of protection. It is a mineral that protects enamel while it's still de

“Is your child refusing a dental filling? They may cry, keep their mouth shut, cling to you, refuse to sit in the dental chair, or simply say, ‘I’m not doing it." This isn't necessarily bad behavior. These reactions may be signs of dental fear and anxiety. A 2024 global meta-analysis published in the Journal of Dentistry found that around 30% of children aged 2–6 experience dental fear or anxiety. Pressuring, scolding, or physically forcing your child to go through an appoint

Your child's smile is precious, and as a parent, you want to do everything you can to protect it. However, do you know that even baby teeth can sometimes need root canal treatment? It may come as a surprise, but children's teeth between the ages of six months and six years have weaker, thinner enamel, which makes them more prone to decay. When damage or infection reaches the inside of a baby tooth, a treatment such as a pulpotomy or pulpectomy may be needed. This therapy rem

Dental veneers are cosmetic enhancements that can transform the appearance of your teeth by covering discolouration, reshaping uneven teeth, altering tooth size and length, and making small gaps less noticeable. Whether you choose porcelain or composite veneers, they are designed to look natural and complement your existing smile. But getting veneers is only the beginning. Habits like biting hard objects, chewing hard foods, nail-biting, and poor oral hygiene can put stress o

“Tooth extraction” can raise many questions. Research published on PubMed has found that people with higher levels of dental fear are more likely to delay or avoid dental visits. With so many dental myths and opinions circulating online, it is easy to feel even more anxious. You may have heard that extraction is painful, loosens other teeth, means you cannot brush, or that a missing back tooth needs no replacement. The reality is, tooth extraction is sometimes necessary when

In our practice, one question comes up almost every time a patient loses a tooth. How long will a dental implant actually last? We walk Scarborough patients through the realistic timeline upfront so they feel confident before committing to treatment. Treatment options vary depending on the tooth's condition. A root canal can often save a tooth that's still salvageable. But once a tooth is missing entirely, an implant becomes the long-term option worth considering. Here's what

Cavities are common during childhood and may require treatment to protect a damaged tooth. For parents, learning what dental fillings involve can help ease concerns about their child's treatment. With tooth fillings for kids, concerns about pain, filling materials, baby teeth, and future cavities are common. Knowing the facts can help parents make better decisions. Why Are Dental Fillings Necessary for Kids? Children can develop cavities from plaque, frequent sugary foods, in