Published September 2026
1 of 5On a baby tooth, a root canal removes the nerve first
- On a baby tooth, a root canal removes the nerve first
- The space is filled with a paste instead of the usual material
- That paste is built to dissolve at roughly the pace the tooth's own root does
- As it dissolves over the following years, the adult tooth underneath keeps coming through
- The baby tooth stays in place until it's ready to fall out on its own, usually under a crown
Who usually does it
pediatric. Done in pediatric and general offices.
One question worth asking
How much longer is this tooth expected to be in place?
Baby tooth root canal
A root canal on a baby tooth uses a filling that dissolves as the adult tooth comes in. It keeps the baby tooth in place until it is ready to fall out on its own.
The nerve is removed from the baby tooth and the space is filled with a paste that dissolves at roughly the same pace as the root, so the adult tooth underneath can come through normally. A crown over the top usually finishes the job. Most plans file this as Basic. What they actually pay varies by plan.
Codes for this
D3230BasicBaby tooth root canal, front toothA root canal on a baby front tooth with a dissolving filling.per tooth · Done sometimesD3240BasicBaby tooth root canal, back toothA root canal on a baby molar with a dissolving filling.per tooth · Done sometimesD3921BasicRemoving the crown of a baby tooth, leaving the rootThe top of a stuck baby tooth is removed and the root left to dissolve, protecting the bone.per tooth · Rarely done
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