Pulpectomy

Pulpectomy is a procedure to remove all the pulp from the crown and roots of a tooth. Pulp is the soft inner material that contains connective tissue, blood vessels, and nerves.

Pulpectomy is usually performed in children to save a severely infected baby (primary) tooth, and is sometimes called a “baby root canal.” In permanent teeth, pulpectomy is the first part of the root canal procedure.

When is a pulpectomy needed?

Pulpectomy is used to save a baby tooth that has been severely damaged by decay or trauma. While baby teeth may not seem important enough for a dental procedure like this, there are valid reasons for pulpectomy.

The baby tooth is reserving a space for the permanent tooth. Premature loss of a baby tooth can cause problems like:

Difficulty chewing
Speech development issues
Having adjoining teeth move into the space, affecting the alignment of permanent teeth (this can lead to crooked, overcrowded teeth that are difficult to clean)

Material used to fill the tooth after a pulpectomy is designed to be resobed when the permanent tooth begins to erupt.

Why Would Your Child Need a Pulpectomy?

The most common reason for a child needing a pulpectomy is because a cavity went untreated for too long, and the soft pulp within a child’s tooth becomes infected. Sometimes decay will develop under a restoration, such as a filling, and the tooth’s pulp is eventually damaged. Once the infection reaches the pulp, your child may complain of toothache and pain, as well as tooth sensitivity, especially to hot and cold temperatures.

The following can increase your risk of cavities:

Excessive use of medication
Eating disorder
Poor oral hygiene
Lack of professional dental care
Dry mouth, or decreased saliva
weak enamel

Common sources of dietary fluoride include:

Tea
Water
Food cooked in water
Fish eaten with their bones
Dry mouth, or decreased saliva
Infant formula