Pulpotomy

If your child’s pediatric dentist suggests a pulpotomy as a therapeutic treatment for your child, it can seem like a scary procedure. However, it is a relatively common endodontic procedure that preserves the health of adult teeth. If you need to schedule a pulpotomy with a skilled endodontist, call Tangredi Endodontics at (516) 746-3636 to schedule an appointment.

A pulpotomy is the removal of diseased tooth pulp, while maintaining the healthy portions of the pulp. It is required for big cavities, including tooth decay in baby molars. After the diseased part is removed, a medicated material is applied to the tooth to preserve its health. It is performed in children as a way to stop decay or infection in the crown of the tooth. It is sometimes referred to as a pediatric root canal. 

A similar procedure called a pulpectomy might be recommended depending on the extent of the damage. A pulpotomy involves removing infected pulp only from the crown of the tooth. With a pulpectomy, tissue is removed from both the crown of the tooth and its root.

In general, pulpotomies are reserved for baby teeth, since primary teeth have a better blood supply than permanent teeth and only have to last until permanent teeth come in. However, there are some instances where a pulpotomy could be of benefit for permanent teeth. Unlike an adult root canal where the roots and the crown of the tooth have the pulp removed, a pulpotomy removes only a portion of infected pulp from the crown of the tooth before a medicated material is applied to keep the tooth pulp healthy.

Compared to a traditional root canal, pulpotomy is a cost-effective and less invasive procedure. For children, it can eliminate tooth pain, inflammation, and tooth infection in a manner that can help to preserve baby teeth and reduce the spread of decay. Unlike some other dental procedures, a pulpotomy will allow the transition from baby teeth to permanent teeth to happen naturally. Plus, a pulpotomy can be completed in a single appointment.

A pulpotomy takes about 30 minutes to complete from start to finish. A member of the dental team will first numb the area to ensure that your child won’t feel any pain or discomfort during the procedure. The endodontist will remove the damaged pulp from the tooth before sterilizing the area to remove all the infection. Then a medicated filling is applied to prevent further infection. Depending on the severity of the decay or infection and how close your child is to losing his baby teeth naturally, a dental crown might be required to restore the tooth after a pulpotomy. 

A pulpotomy should be performed by a comforting, experienced endodontist that is knowledgeable in pediatric dentistry. The team at Tangredi Endodontics is prepared to take care of your whole family’s endodontic needs. To schedule an appointment with a Garden City endodontics provider you can trust, contact Tangredi Endodontics at (516) 746-3636.