The pulp is the soft tissue inside your teeth that contains nerve endings and blood vessels. Severe tooth decay or a traumatic dental injury can cause the pulp to become infected. In this situation, a root canal is usually necessary in order to save the tooth. Pulp capping is performed on healthy pulp to prevent the need for a root canal in the future, or on children with damaged or decayed baby teeth.
What is Pulp Capping?
There are two types of pulp capping: indirect and direct. Indirect pulp capping is usually performed on baby teeth or "young" adult teeth that are decayed or damaged. In this procedure, we avoid exposing the sensitive pulp and therefore prevent the need for performing a root canal on a baby tooth. Indirect pulp capping involves removing most of the decay except for a small amount near the tooth pulp. We then cover the compromised area with a composite bonding material to prevent further decay or damage. Indirect pulp capping is a temporary solution for a damaged or decayed baby tooth until an adult tooth erupts in its place. Direct pulp capping, on the other hand, is almost always performed on permanent teeth. It is an alternative to performing a root canal procedure on a decayed tooth, but it is only possible if the dental pulp is still healthy. A direct pulp cap involves removing decay near the healthy pulp, then covering the exposed pulp with a material such as calcium hydroxide to seal and protect the tooth. If the decay is deep enough to infect the dental pulp, however, or if a dental fracture has extended into the pulp, a root canal is usually the best treatment option. The best way to prevent the need for both pulp capping and root canals is to follow proper oral hygiene and keep up with your routine dental checkups. Contact our office to learn more about pulp capping.
The pulp is the soft tissue inside your teeth that contains nerve endings and blood vessels. Severe tooth decay or a traumatic dental injury can cause the pulp to become infected. In this situation, a root canal is usually necessary in order to save the tooth. Pulp capping is performed on healthy pulp to prevent the need for a root canal in the future, or on children with damaged or decayed baby teeth.