PT

What is a pulpotomy? A pulpotomy is the removal of a portion of the pulp, the inflamed part, and filling of it with a medicated material (“medicament”) to stop the tooth from hurt ing. The pulp is the soft tissue inside the tooth where nerves and blood vessels pass through.

PULP

Why does a child need a pulpotomy? A pulpotomy is performed to save a tooth with a cavity that has reached 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 or even into the pulp, the pulp becomes inflamed and painful. This usually causes the “toothache” your child feels while doing things such as eating. Cavities can grow very fast and can cause pain and infection. They can spread and cause decay in other teeth, as well as infections in other parts of the body. Without treatment, the infection will spread. 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 a pulpotomy performed? The dentist will start by making the patient com fortable through the use of local anesthesia. All of the diseased part of the pulp is removed, while the healthy pulp in tooth root is left intact. Then a medicament is placed to stop bacterial growth and to calm the remaining nerve tissue. The tooth is then restored, generally with a crown.