What is a pulpotomy?
A pulpotomy is an endodontic procedure that restores a tooth by removing the pulp tissue in the crown affected by decay, infection or damage from trauma, before it reaches the root. By removing the pulp tissue before the decay, infection or damage has traveled deeper into the tooth’s structure, a pulpotomy can save a tooth from needing extraction or more involved treatments like a pulpectomy or root canal. Pulpotomies are most commonly performed on primary (baby) teeth but can also be effective for permanent teeth where there is enough healthy pulp and root structure remaining to maintain the tooth’s vitality.
Once the affected pulp is removed our doctors will apply a medication to protect the healthy pulp from being reinfected. Depending on the extent of the tooth structure removed, a filling or crown is then placed to fully seal the tooth, prevent harmful bacteria from entering, and provide structural support to withstand your biting forces.
How do I know if I need a pulpotomy?
X-ray images and diagnostic tests allow our doctors to assess the extent of decay or damage and the health of the surrounding pulp. Since the tooth’s nerves are in the pulp, you may experience pain and sensitivity to temperature if the pulp is affected, a condition known as pulpitis.
There are two types of pulpitis:
Reversible pulpitis: In the early stages once the cause is addressed and affected pulp is removed by a pulpotomy, the remaining pulp can be treated with medication and tooth sealed with a filling or crown.
Irreversible pulpitis: In more advanced stages, the pulp is too damaged to heal on its own and will eventually die. This requires a more involved procedure, such as a pulpectomy, root canal, or extraction, depending on the condition of the tooth’s structure.