The pulp of a tooth is the inner, central core of the tooth. The pulp contains nerves, blood vessels, connective tissue and reparative cells. The purpose of pulp therapy in Pediatric Dentistry is to maintain the vitality of the affected tooth (so the tooth is not lost).
Deep cavities and trauma are the main causes for a tooth to need pulpal therapy. Pulpal therapy is also known as “baby tooth nerve treatment”, “baby tooth root canal”. The technical terms for treatment are “pulpotomy” or “pulpectomy”.
A pulpotomy removes the diseased tissue from the crown only, while a pulpotomy removes diseased tissue from the crown and roots. Then a final restoration is placed, usually a stainless steel crown, or zirconia crown.
