Pulpotomies and pulpectomies are considered to be the right treatments for treating injured tooth pulp caused by any of the following:
- Decay
- Infection
- Trauma.
Although they vary in breadth and application, they all restore dental health, reduce pain, and maintain the tooth. Although they vary in breadth and application, they all restore dental health, reduce pain, and maintain the tooth.
At Surillo’s Children’s Braces and Dentistry, they provide expert La Mesa pediatrics, ensuring your child’s comfort, safety, and smile.
Pulpotomy vs. Pulpectomy

While undergoing pulpotomy surgery, only the infected or damaged pulp found on the crown of the tooth is removed. Teeth that are still alive are usually used for this operation because the pulp is still vital, has circulation, and may react to temperature changes. The treatment is generally used for baby teeth or permanent teeth with damage from trauma or cavities that have not reached the root.
The absence of an abscess, spontaneous discomfort, and bone loss beneath the tooth are necessary for a pulpotomy to be completed successfully. The process aims to preserve the healthy portions of the pulp while removing only the damaged component. Besides reducing discomfort and preventing infection, you can also save your tooth.
So far as pulpectomy is concerned, it is a much more involved surgery, where the tooth’s pulp is in the crown and the tooth is removed. Usually, pulpectomies are performed on dead teeth which are infected or necrotic.
Primary (baby) teeth with dead pulp or permanent teeth with extensive infections or abscesses frequently require this surgery. The entire root canal is cleaned and disinfected after the pulp is removed to stop additional infection. Thereafter, a resorbable substance is used to fill the tooth, which the body gradually absorbs.
Pulpectomy vs. Root Canal: What’s the Difference?
Although pulpectomies and root canals are similar methods, there may be one critical difference. A root canal is a more typical, and surgical operation needs multiple visits often carried out on permanent teeth, whereas a pulpectomy is mostly a one-time process accomplished on primary teeth.
Although the pulpectomy is the initial level of a root canal, where canal gadget is further cleaned, formed, and stuffed, and an everlasting filling or crown is inserted to seal the enamel.
The Procedure Process
Typically, a pulpectomy is a single-visit operation that starts with diagnostic X-rays to assess root canal anatomy and infection. After numbing the location the use of neighbourhood anaesthetics, the teeth is wiped clean and disinfected, the pulp is eliminated, and the vicinity is drilled into to allow get admission to. After that, resorbable material is used to fill the enamel so that it heals.
However, a root canal necessitates several visits. Following the initial root canal cleaning and shaping, transient fillings are inserted till a follow-up appointment is scheduled to put in a permanent crown or filling.
Conclusion
Treatment of injured enamel pulp requires pulpotomies and pulpectomies. While they alleviate pain and preserve the tooth, they differ in approach and treatment extent. If you suspect damage, consult a dentist promptly for the best treatment options.