Please note we may not offer this service at our offices. Contact our Wilmington dental office at (302) 999-7600 or our Seaford dental office at (302) 536-7589 for more information.
Your Child’s Tooth-Saving Alternative to Root Canal Treatment
Our dentists near you in Wilmington or Seaford, DE, explain what gentle pulpotomy procedures are for children, providing pain-free solutions that preserve your child’s natural smile.
Call our Wilmington dental office at (302) 999-7600 or our Seaford dental office at (302) 536-7589 to schedule your child’s consultation today. We proudly serve families throughout Delaware with advanced dental care.
What Is Pulpotomy?
A pulpotomy is a specialized dental procedure that removes infected pulp tissue from your child’s tooth while preserving the healthy dental pulp underneath. Think of it as a “baby root canal”—but less invasive and specifically designed for primary teeth and young permanent teeth.
Unlike traditional root canal therapy, which removes all pulp tissue, pulpotomy treatment focuses on preserving the vital pulp in the tooth’s roots. This conservative approach helps maintain your child’s natural tooth structure while eliminating pain and preventing further infection.
Key differences from adult root canal treatment:
- Preserves the remaining pulp in the tooth roots
- Less invasive than complete root canal therapy
- Specifically designed for baby teeth and immature permanent teeth
- Typically completed in one visit to your dentist’s office
When Does Your Child Need Pulpotomy Treatment Near You?
Be alert for these common indicators that your child might require a pulpotomy:
- Persistent tooth pain, especially at night
- Sensitivity to hot and cold foods
- Pain when chewing or touching the tooth
- Visible decay reaching the pulp chamber
- Swelling around the affected tooth
- Carious exposure of the dental pulp
- Irreversible pulpitis in primary teeth
- Infected tooth causing discomfort
- Symptomatic permanent teeth with immature root formation
If your child is experiencing any of these symptoms, contact our Wilmington dental office at (302) 999-7600 or our Seaford dental office at (302) 536-7589 immediately for dental care.
Why Choose Pulpotomy Over Tooth Extraction?
Here are some of the life-changing benefits of pulpotomy over tooth extraction:
- Preserve Your Child’s Natural Smile: Pulpotomy saves baby teeth, preserving space for adult teeth and promoting healthy jaw growth, which helps avoid future orthodontic expenses.
- Immediate Pain Relief: Our gentle pulpotomy procedure eliminates the source of your child’s discomfort, providing instant relief from the inflamed pulp causing their pain.
- Prevent Serious Complications: Untreated infected pulp can lead to dental abscesses (requiring surgery), damage to permanent teeth, and systemic infections affecting overall health.
- Cost-Effective Long-Term Solution: Pulpotomy treatment costs significantly less than tooth extraction followed by space maintainers or future orthodontic treatment.
The Pulpotomy Process
Most pulpotomy procedures take 30-60 minutes and can be completed in a single visit. Here’s what you can expect:
Step 1: Comfort First
We begin by numbing the area with local anesthetic, ensuring your child feels no pain during the procedure. The dental team is experienced in making children feel safe and comfortable throughout their visit.
Step 2: Tooth Isolation
A rubber dam isolates the tooth, keeping it clean and dry while protecting your child’s mouth from any debris.
Step 3: Precise Removal of Infected Material
Using advanced dental instruments, your dentist carefully removes only the infected pulp from the coronal pulp chamber, preserving all healthy tissue in the tooth’s roots.
Step 4: Healing Medication Application
We apply special medication (often mineral trioxide aggregate or ferric sulfate) to the remaining pulp tissue to promote healing and prevent future infection.
Step 5: Protective Restoration
The pulp chamber is filled with dental cement, and typically, a stainless steel crown is placed over the tooth to provide long-lasting protection and restore full function.
Step 6: Recovery Instructions
Before leaving your dentist’s office, we provide detailed aftercare instructions to ensure optimal healing.
Post-Pulpotomy Care for Your Child
Ensuring your child’s successful recovery:
- First 24 Hours: Manage pain with prescribed medication. Offer soft foods until numbness subsides; avoid sticky, hard foods and chewing on the treated side. Expect minor bleeding; contact us for excessive bleeding.
- Ongoing Care: Maintain gentle daily brushing and flossing around the crown. Keep follow-up appointments for healing checks. Avoid very hot or cold foods if sensitivity continues. Normal activities can resume the next day.
- Call Us Immediately For: Unrelieved severe pain, excessive swelling or fever, a loose or lost crown, or signs of infection.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, pulpotomy is performed under local anesthetic, ensuring your child feels no pain during the procedure. Most children experience only mild discomfort afterward, easily managed with over-the-counter pain medication.
Yes, pulpotomy can be successfully performed on immature permanent teeth where the root formation is incomplete. This approach helps preserve the tooth’s vitality while allowing continued root development.
While rare, pulpotomy failure may require additional treatment such as root canal therapy or, in some cases, tooth extraction. Regular follow-up appointments help detect any issues early.
Schedule Your Child’s Pulpotomy Consultation Today
Don’t let your child suffer from tooth pain any longer. Our experienced dentists in Wilmington and Seaford are ready to ensure your child’s comfort and protect their smile.
Ready to schedule? Contact our Wilmington dental office at (302) 999-7600 or our Seaford dental office at (302) 536-7589 to schedule your child’s consultation today. We’re proud to serve families throughout Delaware, such as in Wilmington, Seaford, Newark, Dover, Middletown, Georgetown, Laurel, Smyrna, and surrounding communities.
