What is a Pulpotomy?
At Little Roots Pediatric Dental, we understand how important it is to maintain your child’s oral health, and one way we can help is through pulpotomies. This procedure helps save decayed or infected primary (baby) teeth, preserving your child’s smile. Let’s take a closer look at what a pulpotomy is and how we can support you and your child.
A pulpotomy is a dental treatment used for primary teeth with significant decay or infection. The procedure involves removing the infected part of the tooth’s pulp, the inner area containing nerves and blood vessels. Unlike a pulpectomy, which removes all the pulp, a pulpotomy preserves the healthy pulp tissue, allowing the tooth to remain functional until it naturally falls out. After the infection is removed, the tooth is filled and sealed to prevent further decay and infection.
How We Can Help
At Little Roots Pediatric Dental in Westbury, NY, our Nassau County pediatric dentists are committed to providing top-quality care for your child. Here’s how we make the pulpotomy experience comfortable and effective:
Expert Pediatric Dentists
Dr. Jessica Barzideh and Dr. Sunaina Vohra are skilled pediatric dentists experienced in performing pulpotomies. Their expertise, combined with a gentle approach, ensures that your child feels safe and comfortable throughout the procedure.
Child-Friendly Environment
Our practice in Westbury, NY, is designed with children in mind. With vibrant colors, fun décor, and a play area, we’ve created a welcoming atmosphere to help your child feel at ease during their visit.
Advanced Dental Technology
We use the latest dental technology to provide efficient and effective pulpotomies. Our state-of-the-art equipment ensures the highest quality of care for your child.
Personalized Treatment Plans
Every child’s dental needs are unique, so we tailor treatment plans to suit your child’s specific situation. We will thoroughly assess your child’s oral health and guide you through the best treatment options.
Pain-Free Experience
We understand that dental procedures can make children anxious. To ensure your child’s comfort, we offer local anesthesia or sedation options for a pain-free, positive experience.
Preserving Primary Teeth
Primary teeth play a critical role in your child’s development. Pulpotomies help preserve these teeth, preventing early tooth loss, maintaining space for permanent teeth, and supporting your child’s ability to speak, eat, and smile confidently.
Choosing Little Roots Pediatric Dental means your child will receive compassionate, high-quality care. We’ll walk you and your child through the pulpotomy procedure, ensuring the best possible outcome for their oral health. We also provide education on preventive care to maintain a healthy smile for years to come.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Pulpotomies
Why would my child need a pulpotomy instead of a regular filling?
A pulpotomy becomes necessary when tooth decay extends deeper than what a regular filling can address, reaching the pulp chamber (the inner portion of the tooth containing nerves and blood vessels). Unlike a standard filling that only removes decay from the outer tooth layers, a pulpotomy involves removing the infected portion of the pulp while preserving the healthy pulp in the root canals. This procedure is often called for when your child experiences symptoms like spontaneous tooth pain, pain when eating, sensitivity to temperature changes, or when X-rays show decay approaching or reaching the pulp. While more extensive than a regular filling, a pulpotomy allows us to save a primary tooth that might otherwise require extraction, maintaining proper spacing for permanent teeth and supporting normal speech and chewing development.
What happens during a pulpotomy procedure for children?
During a pulpotomy procedure, our pediatric dental team takes several careful steps to ensure your child’s comfort and successful treatment. First, the area is thoroughly numbed with local anesthesia, and possibly nitrous oxide (laughing gas) or other sedation options depending on your child’s needs. Once your child is comfortable, we remove the decay and access the pulp chamber of the tooth. The inflamed pulp tissue in the crown portion of the tooth is gently removed, while the healthy pulp in the root canals remains untouched. We then place a medicated material in the pulp chamber to prevent bacterial growth and promote healing. Finally, the tooth is restored with either a stainless steel crown (most common for molars) or a tooth-colored restoration to protect the treated tooth from fracture and further decay, ensuring it remains functional until naturally replaced by the permanent tooth.
Is a pulpotomy painful for children, and what’s the recovery like?
With proper anesthesia and sedation options tailored to your child’s needs, the pulpotomy procedure itself should not be painful. Most children experience only pressure sensations during treatment. After the procedure, once the anesthesia wears off, your child may feel some mild discomfort or sensitivity, but this typically subsides within 24-48 hours. Over-the-counter pain medications like children’s ibuprofen or acetaminophen are usually sufficient for managing any post-procedure discomfort. Most children return to normal activities the same day or by the following day. Temporary sensitivity to hot or cold foods is normal and resolves quickly. The treated tooth might feel slightly different due to the new crown or restoration, but children adapt to this sensation rapidly. You should contact our office if your child experiences severe pain, swelling, fever, or if the crown becomes loose following the procedure.
What’s the difference between a pulpotomy and a root canal?
A pulpotomy and a root canal are both treatments for infected pulp tissue, but they differ significantly in their approach and application. A pulpotomy is often called a “baby root canal” or “partial root canal,” but it’s actually less invasive. During a pulpotomy, only the infected pulp tissue in the crown (top) portion of the tooth is removed, while the healthy pulp in the root canals remains intact. This procedure is primarily performed on primary (baby) teeth with vital pulp that can still heal. In contrast, a complete root canal involves removing all pulp tissue from both the crown and the root canals, followed by filling the entire canal system. Root canals are typically performed on permanent teeth or in cases where the infection has spread throughout the entire pulp. Pulpotomies are generally faster, less complex procedures that aim to maintain the vitality of the remaining pulp tissue.
How successful are pulpotomies, and how long do they last?
Pulpotomies have an excellent success rate when performed on appropriately selected cases, with studies showing success rates of 80-90% or higher. A successful pulpotomy should last until the primary tooth naturally falls out to make way for the permanent tooth, which could be several years depending on the child’s age and which tooth is treated. The longevity of a pulpotomy depends on several factors, including the extent of the original infection, the child’s overall oral health, the quality of the final restoration (usually a stainless steel crown), and ongoing oral hygiene practices. Regular dental check-ups are essential following a pulpotomy to monitor the treated tooth and ensure it remains functional and infection-free. In some cases where a pulpotomy fails, additional treatment such as extraction might become necessary, but with proper case selection and technique, most pulpotomies successfully preserve the primary tooth until its natural exfoliation.
