Pulpotomy
Pulpotomy: Saving Damaged Teeth in AdultsMost parents teach their children how to brush and floss their teeth, expressing how important it is to do that twice a day. They show them how to floss carefully and how to brush the correct way, holding the brush appropriately. What many parents fail to realize is decay and disease can also affect the interior of the teeth. In some cases, a cavity that goes undetected can spread easily to the interior of the tooth, infecting the dentin and the pulp. This is incredibly important since children have a much higher propensity for tooth decay because their enamel is so thin. When this happens a pulpotomy may be recommended. What Is a Pulpotomy?When teeth are badly decayed, they can actually have an internal infection which affects the pulp of the tooth. The pulpotomy is a procedure, also known as a baby root canal, which attempts to save the tooth by cleaning out the infected pulp. This procedure is typically performed with just local anesthetic and takes a single appointment to complete. Pulpotomies in AdultsWhile this procedure is usually performed on children that still have their baby teeth, in rare cases, an adult or older child that already has their permanent teeth might require a pulpotomy. Here are some reasons why an adult might need a pulpotomy:
Pulpotomy ProcedureAfter we discuss the appropriate sedation dentistry options available, we can select the one most appropriate. We want our patients to be completely comfortable the entire procedure. On the day of the surgery, our staff will apply the anesthetic to make sure the patient is relaxed and comfortable. A dental dam is applied around the affected tooth. This is a small bit of rubber sheeting that can be placed over the tooth to isolate it. Our staff will then drill into the enamel and expose the infected pulp. Once it is exposed, our staff will remove the infection, taking out the infected pulp material. Once removed, the cleaned-out area of the tooth's crown, and the open area is sterilized as is the remaining pulp, and putty is used to fill the area before a crown is chosen to protect the interior of the tooth from further infection. Usually, the crown is made of stainless steel because it is in an area of the mouth where it is not readily visible. Six months following the procedure a follow-up appointment will be necessary. This is to ensure the crown is still fitting properly and no infection has returned. Pulpotomy vs. PulpectomyWhile both a pulpotomy and pulpectomy are intent upon saving the existing tooth so it does not have to be extracted, a pulpotomy removes only the pulp in the crown of the tooth, leaving the pulp around the root system of the tooth. We will remove the infected pulp and then fill it with a sealant. A pulpectomy is slightly more involved. This procedure removes all of the pulp from the interior of the tooth. Once this is done, the vacated area of the tooth's interior is filled with cement or sealant. For those patients, adults or children, who may need a pulpotomy, come to us at Duggan Endodontics to find out the details. Call us at (512)-380-0777. |
