Pulpotomy and Pulpectomy: Expert Endodontic Care for Healthy Teeth

If a primary tooth has extensive decay, or has been damaged by trauma, action may be needed to restore its integrity and prevent infection from spreading to surrounding teeth. After a set of X-rays are taken, we will be able to assess the extent of the infection and recommend one of two options: a pulpotomy or a pulpectomy.

Pulpotomy

If the decay or trauma is confined to the crown of the tooth, a pulpotomy may be recommended. When a cavity gets really deep, close to the pulp of a tooth, or even into the pulp, the pulpal tissue becomes irritated and inflamed.

A pulpotomy is when the inflamed pulp chamber, usually on a baby molar, is removed. The dentist will remove all the infected material in the pulp of the crown only, and leave the living tooth root intact. After a pulpotomy on a baby molar, the empty space will be filled with dental cement and a stainless steel crown will be placed to restore the tooth.

Pulpectomy

If the infection involves tissue in both the crown and the root, a pulpectomy may be the best option. In a pulpectomy, the entire pulp material is removed from both the crown and the roots.

After numbing the patient’s tooth, the dentist will remove the pulp and nerve tissue from the crown and from the canals of the roots. Then the pulp chamber and root canals will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.

Next, the dentist will fill the tooth and tooth roots with a dental cement, and finish with a stainless steel crown.

Crowns

Crowns are “cemented” onto an existing tooth and fully cover the portion of the tooth above the gum line. In effect, the crown becomes the tooth’s new outer surface.

Stainless-steel dental crowns are regarded as a good temporary restoration to save a primary tooth until the permanent tooth can emerge and take its place. Keeping the primary tooth if at all possible is very important.

A primary tooth can be restored with a stainless-steel crown during a single appointment. A crowned tooth must be brushed and flossed just like other teeth.