Pulpotomies in Draper

Whenever we can, we want to save a child’s tooth. We can sometimes do this with pulp therapy. The pulp is found at the center of each tooth. The pulp includes tissue, nerves, and blood vessels that provide the tooth with oxygen and nutrients. Tooth decay or a serious injury can lead to a damaged pulp. When this happens, there can be severe pain and swelling.

Pediatric dentists use pulp therapy (also known as a root canal) to treat, restore, and save the tooth. Pediatric dentists perform pulp therapy on both baby teeth and permanent teeth. Though baby teeth will eventually fall out, they are still needed for speech, chewing, and the alignment of permanent teeth.

The two forms of pulp therapy are a pulpotomy and a pulpectomy.

A pediatric dentist performs a pulpotomy to remove diseased pulp from inside the tooth, but leave the healthy pulp root. After the diseased part of the pulp has been removed, medication is placed inside the tooth to prevent infection and calm the nerves. A crown is placed on the top of the tooth to strengthen the tooth structure and reduce the chance of future fractures.

A pediatric dentist performs a pulpectomy to remove the entire pulp from the tooth. In this situation, no part of the pulp can be saved. The canals of the tooth are cleaned and disinfected. Once again, the pediatric dentist places a crown on top of the tooth to protect the structure.

Some of the symptoms of an infected or damaged pulp include unexplained pain, extreme sensitivity to warm and cold, redness or swelling around a tooth, and unexpected looseness of a tooth.

If your child is experiencing any of these symptoms, please call to make an appointment with the dentist. We will examine the tooth and gums, and take X-rays before making a recommendation for pulp therapy. Call today. Do not let the situation get worse.

If you’re in Draper or surrounding areas, please call our office at 801-495-1610 to get more information about Pulpotomies in Draper.