During a pulpotomy the infected part of the pulp is removed, while the remaining healthy pulp is left behind. A sedative medication is placed inside the tooth to prevent sensitivity and to promote healing. A crown (cap) is then placed on the tooth.

A pulpectomy is carried out by the total removal of the pulp (nerve), of the infected/ abscessed tooth. A cap is then placed on the tooth.

Since milk teeth require to function in the mouth for many years, saving them with root canal treatment is always the treatment of choice.

When tooth decay (cavity) isn’t treated on time, it gets deeper and the infection reaches the nerve (pulp tissue). Sometimes the tooth may be asymptomatic (have no complaints) initially. The child will eventually have episodes of pain (often severe) and swelling.

Once the cavity affects the pulp, the tooth can either be saved with root canal treatment or needs to be extracted. Since milk teeth require to function in the mouth for many years, saving them with root canal treatment is always the treatment of choice. Sometimes the degree of infection is severe and the condition of the tooth really bad. We may then need to extract the tooth and place a space maintainer.

All teeth requiring root canal treatment will need to be numbed first with a local anesthetic. The infected pulp tissue (nerve) along with bacteria is then removed. The canals within the roots are treated with a disinfectant and filled with a medicated paste. The tooth is then restored with a filling and a Zirconia or Stainless Steel Crown.

Infection around the roots of the milk tooth can irritate the developing permanent tooth. Therefore treating an infected milk tooth will affect the permanent tooth positively, if at all! There is no connection between the pulp tissue (nerve) of the milk tooth and that of the permanent tooth. They are separate entities.

Your child will receive local anaesthesia in the tooth to be treated. This will numb the tooth and make treatment pain free.

Teeth requiring root canal treatment, most often have very large cavities. This makes these teeth prone to fracture after treatment. The chances of the large filling chipping post treatment are also high.

To ensure success of treatment, we always insist on a Zirconia or Stainless Steel Crown on all milk teeth that receive pulp therapy.

Yes. Teeth treated with pulpotomy/root canal treatment usually shed naturally along with their cap. Rarely may they need to be extracted, years later, when the permanent is ready to erupt.