Pulpal therapy is a pediatric dental treatment used to treat and preserve a child’s natural tooth that has been affected by an injury or extensive tooth decay. The dental pulp is the soft tissue of nerves, blood vessels, and dental stem cells located inside the teeth. When a tooth becomes damaged or decayed, the pulp may be exposed to bacteria, causing infection and pain. Rather than extract the tooth entirely, the infected pulp may be removed and replaced with a medicated material that prevents bacteria from further damaging the tooth.
Did you know…
that pediatric dentists use pulp therapy to treat both primary and permanent teeth? Saving the “baby teeth” is important for the long-term oral health of a child. When a primary tooth is extracted prematurely, the neighboring teeth may become crowded and future permanent teeth may emerge with poor alignment. Pulp therapy helps ensure an infected primary tooth remains intact until it naturally falls out.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my child needs pulp therapy?
Only your child’s pediatric dentist can diagnose a diseased tooth. However, an infected pulp may cause certain symptoms in a child, such as a chronic or a frequent toothache, swelling and sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures.
Will pulpal therapy change the appearance of a child’s tooth?
Pulpal therapy requires removal of disease pulp within the tooth. In many of these cases, the tooth will need to be restored with a crown. Pediatric dentists use dental crowns to cap treated teeth to help prevent future tooth damage or fracture. Dr. Mark and associate dentists will discuss restorative options of teeth with pulpal involvement as part of a compressive treatment plan.
What will my child experience when undergoing pediatric pulp therapy?
Local anesthesia is widely used to maintain patient comfort, but additionally children may require sedation for a pulp therapies. The diseased pulp is carefully removed, whether in part or in whole. The tooth is then filled with a therapeutic material, and finally the tooth is capped with a dental crown to provide structural support and function.
What find of crowns are used at Southern Smiles?
Teeth and cavities come in all shapes and sizes. Dr. Mark and associate dentists will select the best restorations for these situations. For front teeth (incisors and canines), tooth colored crowns are often used. For posterior teeth (molars), stainless steel crowns are commonly used to treat deep cavities on primary teeth. The dentists at Southern Smiles will review the pros and cons of proposed treatment plans with families to ensure that informed consent is always achieved prior to providing treatment.
