The pulp is the central core of the tooth, consisting of nerves and blood vessels. It is responsible for providing blood supply and nourishment to the tooth. Teeth affected by caries or injury can lead to pulpal involvement. Children may require a slightly different approach based on their age since they may witness tooth resorption, paving the way for the eruption of permanent. This is popularly known as pulp therapy.
quality dental care in Tukwila involves providing comprehensive pulp therapies to children to maintain the integrity and health of their teeth and supporting structures.
Understanding pulp therapy
Pulp therapy is a common dental procedure in children, which is known by several names, such as pulpotomy, pulpectomy, and nerve treatment. The prime objective of this procedure is to eliminate infection and restore and save the affected tooth. Pulp therapy can be performed for both primary (baby) and permanent teeth. Though the primary teeth eventually shed off, they are essential for proper mastication and speech and to guide the proper alignment and spacing of permanent teeth.
Signs and symptoms associated with pulp therapy
A pulp infection can be debilitating since it is accompanied by a series of signs and symptoms, such as:
- Unexplained, excruciating, and persistent pain
- Radiating pain to the jaws and ears
- Pain that increases in intensity, especially during the night
- Extreme tooth sensitivity to hot and cold food temperature
- Presence of an abscess around the root tip
- Swelling, redness, and tenderness around the affected tooth
- Unexplained mobility of the affected tooth
The procedure behind pulp therapy
The nature of pulp therapy depends greatly on the exact location and extent of the infection. There are two types of pulp therapies. These include:
- Pulpotomy
- This involves the removal of only the coronal part of the pulp, leaving the pulp tissues in the root (radicular pulp) intact.
- The removed portion is then replaced with a therapeutic material to soothe the pulp root.
- This is later filled with a biocompatible material and restored with a crown.
- The crown strengthens the tooth structure, minimizing the risk of future fractures.
- Pulpectomy
- This procedure involves the removal of the entire pulp tissue, including the coronal and radicular pulp.
- The root canals are cleaned and packed with a biocompatible material.
- A resorbable material is used to fill primary teeth, while the permanent teeth are filled with a non-resorbable material.
- This is finally restored with a tooth-colored crown.
Many children suffer from caries and tooth loss despite several preventive measures adopted. This is attributed to unhealthy eating habits and poor oral hygiene in children. Fortunately, this can be effectively overcome through pulp therapy, which can help prevent premature tooth loss.