IPT

ASK YOUR DENTIST ABOUT

INDIRECT PULP TREATMENT

When is an indirect pulp treatment performed? Indirect pulp treatment is an option when: • A tooth has a deep cavity. •

The patient has not reported any spontaneous (or night) pain, swelling or any other symptoms.

• An X-ray shows that a tooth has decay that has not yet reached the pulp. IND I RECT What is an indirect pulp treatment? Indirect pulp treatment (IPT) is a procedure that may be done when a tooth has a cavity that is very close to the pulp (nerve) of the tooth. The pulp is the soft tissue inside the tooth where nerves and blood vessels pass through. In order to maintain the tooth’s vitality and avoid a pulpotomy, a bit of decay is left in the tooth. A sedative medication is then placed to seal over the remaining decay. This arrests the decay and reduces chances of future infections. Why does a child need an indirect pulp treatment? An indirect pulp is performed to save a tooth with a cavity that is close to has the pulp, and that can no longer be treated with a regular filling. When a cavity gets very deep, close to the pulp of a tooth, the pulp may become irritated and inflamed. This usually causes the “toothache” your child feels in response to stimuli such as eating, cold etc. Without treatment, the gum around tooth will likely become infected, swollen and painful.

How does a dentist determine the need for an indirect pulp treatment? If a baby tooth has a very large cavity, or is broken, action may be needed to restore the tooth and pre vent infection from spreading to surrounding tissues. After X-rays are taken, your dentist will be able to assess the extent of the infection and recommend treatment.

PULP TREATMENT

Why not just pull the tooth? Baby teeth hold space for the proper placing of the permanent teeth. If a baby tooth is lost too early, it may mean a crooked smile in the child’s future. How is an indirect pulp treatment performed? The dentist will start by making the patient comfort able through the injection of a local anesthetic. Most of the decay will be removed and a special dressing will be placed over any remaining decay to prevent it from later affecting the pulp. The tooth is then restored with a crown or a filling in the same visit. How long does it take to get an indirect pulp treatment? Usually less than an hour. What about home care? Pain or discomfort after IPT may be treated with over–the-counter pain relievers recommended by your dentist. If swelling occurs, or if pain becomes worse, your dentist should be contacted right away.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry

(AAPD) is the recognized authority on children’s oral health. As advocates for children’s oral health, the AAPD promotes evidence-based policies and clinical guidelines; educates and informs policymakers, par ents and guardians, and other health care profession als; fosters research; and provides continuing profes sional education for pediatric dentists and general dentists who treat children. Founded in 1947, the AAPD is a not-for-profit professional membership association representing the specialty of pediatric dentistry. Its 10,000 members provide primary care and comprehensive dental specialty treatments for infants, children, adolescents and individuals with special health care needs. For further information, please visit the AAPD website at http://www.aapd. org or the AAPD’s consumer website at http://www. mychildrensteeth.org .

211 East Chicago Avenue, Suite 1600 Chicago, Illinois 60611 (312) 337-2169 aapdinfo@aapd.org www.aapd.org; www.mychildrensteeth.org ©2018 American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry All rights reserved.