What is pulp therapy?

The pulp of your child’s tooth is in the middle, unable to be seen with the human eye. It is comprised of nerves, blood vessels and tissue that allow nutrients and oxygen to pass through the tooth. According to Dr. Yury Slepak, a Board Certified Pediatric Dentist from Brooklyn Pediatric Dentistry, children are most at risk for pulp exposure due to injury or tooth decay. If your child’s pulp become exposed, it can cause pain and inflammation.
The most common type of treatment for pulp exposure is pulp therapy, also known as root canal, pulpotomy, pulpectomy or nerve treatment. Your child’s dentist will do everything in his or her power to save the damaged tooth.
You may be surprised to learn that your child’s dentist will perform pulp therapy on both the primary and permanent teeth. Since primary teeth fall out, you may wonder why the dentist would attempt to save them. Primary teeth are necessary for proper spacing of permanent teeth, learning to speak, and proper chewing.
Signs of pulp damage:
Damaged pulp can be very painful for your child. The following are warning signs that something is wrong.
• Looseness of the affected tooth.
• Nighttime pain in the affected tooth.
• Swelling or redness around the affected tooth.
• Sensitivity to hot or cold in the affected tooth.
How will my child’s tooth be treated?
Your child’s dentist will examine the tooth, mostly likely taking x-rays. Then your child’s dentist will decide a course of treatment.
The two most common treatments are:
• Pulpotomy — the affected part of the tooth will be removed and a crown applied to strengthen the tooth.
• Pulpectomy — the pulp will be removed and the dentist will perform a root canal. A crown will be applied to strengthen the tooth.
No matter which treatment your child’s dentist chooses, be sure to ask questions. Dental health is vital to the growth and development of your child and affects many aspects of his life.