What is the process for a root canal? is it different in children versus adults? how traumatic can it be?

If : If it is an adult tooth, the process is the same for children as adults. Forget about common folklore in movies you have seen. The root canal treatment itself is not tramatic at all. This is why i always recommend going to an endodontist (the root canal specialist). The endodontist is trained to make the procedure painless, comfortable, and long lasting. In addition, the quality of the crown on top of the root canal treatment, is even more important, since it provides the final seal you want for the tooth. I am so sorry that you are running off of fears that are not justified, and are perpetuated by people who neglect their teeth to the point of pain. If root canal treatment is done in a controlled fashion, before the tooth is hurting, it is actually quite benign. Best of luck, dr. Zev kaufman.

If : If it is a baby tooth yes it is different than a permanent tooth. Baby teeth generally the roots are very thin and almost always you can only do partial nerve treatment called a pulpotomy. The second baby molars you can do a full root canal depending on the root structure. However the materials and process is different than for a permanent teeth. Much more simplistic process for baby teeth. If an adolescent has a root canal i agree that you want a complete seal and should go with a crown. The same for an adult patient. However with the adolescent the permanent tooth will not be able to have a porcelain crown because the child is still growing. You want to tide them over with a stainless steel crown if it is in the back. There are many different options.

Different, no trauma: Both involve decay removal, cleaning out of diseased and infected internal soft tissue from inside the tooth, placement of a medication and/or filling tooth's root's canals and then restoring the tooth. The basic ideas are the same, but the adult vs. Child techniques are different. Neither are traumatic and both are valuable ways to save teeth. Both procedures are easily done with local anesthesia.