Dr. Tanya Vlacancich provides root canal treatment for children to help them retain their teeth and regain a healthy smile. Also known as pulpotomy, this endodontic treatment is designed to remove infection from baby teeth and prevent the need for an extraction. Call us at 718-747-0020 to make an appointment with our caring dentist and learn more about the benefits of pulpotomy in College Point and Whitestone, New York.
Pulpotomy is an endodontic treatment that is most often used on primary (baby) teeth. When decay or injury reaches the dental pulp, which is the innermost layer of the tooth, patients often experience tooth pain and sensitivity. If not treated, the tooth will likely abscess and eventually require extraction. In order to prevent this, our dentist may recommend pulpotomy.
During pulpotomy, we remove the decay inside the pulp chamber. The area is sterilized, but unlike a regular root canal treatment, the tooth nerves are not removed or treated. In some cases, not all of the dental pulp is removed, thus maintaining the vitality of the remaining healthy pulp. For these situations, we often use a therapeutic dressing to maintain the healthy pulp. After the decayed pulp is removed and the tooth is cleaned, a dental crown is often required. We most often recommend stainless steel crowns for children.
While pulpotomy is rarely recommended for permanent (adult) teeth, this treatment may be suggested if decay has reached the pulp but much of the pulp is still healthy. If the roots of the tooth have not finished forming, a partial pulpotomy can give the tooth a chance to finish forming.
For more information about therapeutic pulpotomy and the other high-quality services we provide, please feel free to contact our office today.