Baby tooth root canal (pulpotomy)
Baby tooth root canal is used for extensively decayed baby molars in the process of trying to save and restore them.
When a cavity gets really deep, close to the pulp of a tooth or even into the pulp, the pulpal tissue (“nerve”) becomes irritated and inflamed. If the inflammation continues without treatment, the tooth will likely eventually abscess.
Before the procedure, radiographs are taken to look for any pathology and to confirm the presence of the permanent successor.
During the procedure, the tooth is numbed, the decay is removed, and then the top part of the pulp chamber is removed with a bur. A special medication (ferric sulfate) is rubbed against the remaining pulp stumps to control bleeding and to form a protective clot over the underlying vital tissue. The cavity is then sealed with a putty-like material that hardens up after a few minutes. Finally, a stainless steel crown is placed to restore and protect the tooth.
This treatment has a success rate of ~90% at 2 years. Although a very reliable procedure, rarely, a tooth with a pulpotomy will have complications (abscess, pain) and need to be extracted. This is usually due to the remaining pulp tissue in the root canals since a pulpotomy only removes the upper chamber of infected tissue not down into the root canals.
If the tooth is abscessed, its removal is usually the best option. A space maintainer may be recommended following the extraction.
*NOTE: In view of increasing concerns about the toxicity of formaldehyde, we do not support using formocresol for the procedure. *