Pulpotomy (Infected tooth)

The word Pulpotomy may be unfamiliar to you, but knowing and understanding it will definately gives you a better position should this happen to your kid and anyone around you..

I got some information and will like to share this with you:

When the nerve of the primary tooth becomes infected, Pulpotomy is necessary in relieving pain and discomfort by removing the nerve tissue (called pulp ) located in the center of a primary ( baby ) tooth.

During a pulpotomy the infected part of the nerve is removed and a sedative medication is placed inside the tooth to prevent sensitivity and to promote healing
Treatment involves drilling through the biting surface of the tooth to expose the diseased pulp, which is removed and treated. Medications are used to sterilize the interior of the tooth to prevent further infection.

After the diseased portion of the pulp has been removed and treated the resulting cavity is sealed with cement and a restoration such as a crown or filling is placed. In most cases this treatment can be completed in one visit however, if additional visits are required, it is essential to return promptly to have that treatment completed.

• Pain, soreness, and infection: Usually there is minimal pain, soreness, or infection after this treatment, however if the tooth was badly infected there may be some residual discomfort. Sometimes an antibiotic is prescribed to clear any residual infection. Slight discomfort is usually treated with an over-the-counter pain reliever such as Tylenol or Advil.

• Perforation: Occasionally the decay, infection, or treatment results in a hole through the tooth into the bone. If this is seen during the treatment the tooth is usually removed, however if the abscess does not heal after treatment it is usually assumed that a perforation is present and the patient is scheduled to have the tooth removed.

• Overfill: Sometimes the cement filling material is forced out though the tip of the roots into the surrounding bone and tissue. This usually causes little or no problem, however if there seems to be discomfort or incomplete healing after the treatment an X-ray can identify if this is the problem and the excess material can be removed.

• Cracking or fracture: Teeth that have had pulpotomies become more brittle and more prone to cracking or breaking. To protect from fracture and further infection, a crown is almost always placed on a tooth that has had a pulpotomy. If the treated tooth has had a filling only, there is a chance that it might fracture and require further treatment.

• Loss of bone support: A severe or longstanding infection can destroy bone around the tooth causing the tooth to be loose. Usually this will heal after pulpotomy treatment however; sometimes it is too advanced. If it does not heal after treatment, the tooth may need to be removed.