Does it make sense to root canal an 8 year olds baby tooth?

It all depends on what tooth it is. The main concern for keeping the tooth is to help maintain the space for when the permanent teeth are ready to come in.

I'd assume not, from what little info i know about root canals, they drill a hole in the tooth, turn the nerve into total pulp and extract it, then fill the tooth w/ some type of oral cement fake tooth stuff. I don't know how that will affect the growth of his adult teeth but it doesn't sound good, are you sure your dentist is reputable? If the tooth is rotting or has a major fracture that needs to be repaired in this way, I'd be less skeptical but as it is his baby tooth he doesn't really need it and pulling would seem to be a safer alternative....you should get a professional opinion. Look in the phone book and call a few local dentistry practices and ask them your question.

On a deciduous tooth, they normally carry out a Pulpotomy, this is because the growth of the root is not complete and the exposed tooth may still have a wide open apex (this is the root of the tooth).

Due to the apex being so wide, blood can still continue to flow through the pulp, the pulp is soft tissue and contain nerves and blood vessels.

If the pulp on a deciduous tooth becomes infected it's simply removed from the pulp chamber, the blood supply through the open apex allows healing to occur, meaning that the remaining pulp can survive.

A pulpotomy is very similar to Root treatment, but only the infected pulp is removed and not the nerve its self!

My five year old grandaughter had a kind of root canal done on her tooth. She bit her lip and side of her face sooo bad she had be taken to the emergency hospital. Her face and mouth puffed up to double the size for days, The hospital put her on antibiotics. Her dentist could NOT be reached even hours later and there was no one answering the phones. I left a DESPERATE message, but she NEVER returned my call. It was a Russian dentist, so I don't know if root canals are done routinely there or what. I wouldn't chance putting any child in that predicament.

no it doesnt make sence at all, just tell them to pull out the tooth because the adult tooth will grow in its place after a while any way so you will just waste your money on that root canal

If it is a molar, yes. A little girl my mom babysits is 5 and she had 2 root canals done on Monday.

Is the tooth a molar, located in the back of his mouth? If so, he may not lose it until he's anywhere between 9 & 12. Is the decay into the pulp, or nerve tissue? Is your son in any discomfort?

Sorry for all the questions, just wanted more info.............

When i was young i had one at 7 but the tooth will die and fall out if it is in pain you might just get it pulled i ended up getting it pulled out

You can't root canal a baby tooth, they don't have roots.