In baby teeth, when large deep cavities are in or close to the nerve, it’s sometimes necessary to perform a pulpotomy. A pulpotomy is the removal of the irritated part of the pulp (nerve), while leaving the healthy root canals intact.

To make the entire procedure comfortable for you child, the first thing Dr. Jenn will do is make sure he/she is thoroughly numb.

Dr Jenn places a rubber dam/”raincoat” around the tooth to isolate it from the rest of the mouth. This functions like a safety net, preventing debris from falling to the back of the throat.

To get at the irritated tissue, Dr. Jenn makes an opening through the top of the tooth down into the pulp chamber, and carefully cleans out the nerve tissue. Dr Jenn places a medicated packing material into the opening.

The last step in the procedure is a crown to seal and protect the tooth.

WHY NOT JUST PULL THE TOOTH?

Primary teeth (baby teeth) hold space for when the permanent teeth (adult teeth) are ready to come in. If a primary tooth is lost or extracted too early it can lead to additional treatment with appliances to maintain proper spacing in the mouth.