An estimated 8 million children are living with an untreated tooth infection at any given time. Worse yet, in addition to causing pain and sensitivity in the affected tooth, this condition can easily spread throughout the mouth and body! In fact, if left untreated, it can infect neighboring teeth and can even be fatal. Here’s a closer look at two important treatments, a pulpotomy and a pulpectomy, that your pediatric dentist can perform to eliminate dangerous oral infections and restore your child’s healthy, pain-free smile!
Pulpotomy vs. Pulpectomy: Which is Best?
Your teeth are comprised of lots of small channels that are packed with a concentration of blood vessels, nerves, connective tissue, and other cells. Known as pulp, this tissue is what makes your teeth “feel” things like sensitivity to cold or hot foods. Unfortunately, however, it can sometimes become infected due to untreated cavities or tooth decay. In those cases, your child’s pediatric dentist may recommend one of two procedures: a pulpotomy or a pulpectomy to restore it.
While both pulpotomies and pulpectomies are similar to an adult’s root canal, a pulpotomy is less invasive. It is generally conducted when a cavity has infiltrated the pulp chamber, but unlike a root canal or pulpectomy, removes only the damaged pulp while leaving the healthy matter intact.
A pulpectomy is a treatment that is performed when infection spreads to both the pulp chamber and the root canals of the tooth. During this procedure, your child’s dentist will remove all the pulp and replace it with a synthetic substance that kills bacteria and maintains the structure. For that reason, this treatment is much closer to an adult root canal than a pulpotomy.
Why Preservation is Better than Extraction
Often, parents wonder if a pulpotomy or pulpectomy are really worth the cost, especially if they’re recommended for a baby tooth. After all, they’re eventually going to lose the tooth naturally, why not just extract it? However, it is important to understand that while yes, your child will lose all their baby teeth at some point, pulling them out before they’re ready can cause its own set of problems, including premature eruption of adult teeth and possibly even future alignment issues. Thus, it is extremely important to preserve their baby teeth for as long as possible and allow them to exfoliate on their own when they’re ready.
Remember, no matter if your child needs a pulpotomy or a pulpectomy, the good news is that their tooth infection is still treatable, giving their smile a second chance to grow and develop on schedule. So, if their pediatric dentist has recommended either procedure, you can rest assured you’re doing the best thing to ensure your little one’s smile looks and feels its best for a lifetime!
About Dr. Thorburn
Dr. Meghan Thorburn earned her undergraduate degree at Baylor University and her dental degree and residency at UT Houston. In addition to being a Board-Certified pediatric dentist, she is an active member of the American Dental Association, Texas Dental Association, and American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. To schedule a consultation for a pulpotomy or pulpectomy for your child at Trinity Pediatric Dentistry, visit our website or call 682-327-1133.