Pulp Therapy

Pulpotomy vs. Pulpectomy

A pulpotomy is the more conservative option, used when only the upper part of the pulp is inflamed – it removes just that portion and leaves the healthy root pulp intact, which is often enough to resolve the problem in a baby tooth. A pulpectomy goes further, clearing infected tissue from the root canals themselves, and is needed when the inflammation has spread past the crown, similar in principle to a root canal in an adult tooth but adapted for a smaller, still-developing tooth. Which one applies depends entirely on how far the infection has gone, checked on an X-ray first.

Why Saving the Tooth Matters

For a baby tooth, holding the space until the adult tooth is ready to come in matters for how the permanent teeth line up later – losing a baby tooth early can let neighbouring teeth drift into the gap, sometimes crowding out the adult tooth trying to erupt into that space. For a young permanent tooth with a nerve still developing, saving it preserves normal root growth rather than cutting that process short with an extraction, which matters for the tooth’s long-term strength.

What Treatment Involves

We numb the area fully using our step-by-step painless protocol before starting, then remove only the affected pulp tissue, not more than necessary, and place a medicated dressing to protect and calm what remains. The tooth is then sealed, usually with a pediatric crown or a composite filling, to protect it going forward and restore normal chewing function on that tooth right away.

If your child has a toothache, a dark tooth, or a cavity that has gone deep, ask us whether pulp therapy could save the tooth rather than assuming extraction is the only option. In many cases, it is not, and catching it early gives the tooth the best chance of a straightforward pulpotomy rather than a more involved pulpectomy. We will also explain what to watch for afterward, and give you a direct way to reach us if anything about the tooth seems off during healing.