Keep Your Child’s Smile Whole
Is your child dealing with an infected or damaged tooth that’s causing them pain? Don’t despair! Our pediatric pulpotomy and pediatric pulpectomy treatment plans may be the solution you’ve been searching for. Dr. Jordan Jones will perform these common dental procedures to save your child’s tooth and alleviate pain and discomfort. Don’t let a pesky infected or damaged tooth get you or your child down. Consider a pediatric pulpotomy or pediatric pulpectomy as a way to get back to smiling with confidence.
What Is A Pulpotomy?
A pulpotomy is a pediatric dental procedure designed to treat a baby tooth when decay has reached the inner pulp tissue. Unlike a full extraction, this approach removes only the infected coronal pulp — the portion inside the crown of the tooth — while preserving the healthy root pulp below. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, pulpotomy is a recommended vital pulp therapy for primary teeth with reversible pulpitis or carious pulp exposure, making it a well-established standard of care in children’s dentistry.
After the infected tissue is removed, a medicated material is placed over the remaining pulp, and the tooth is typically restored with a dental crown to protect it. Dr. Jordan Jones and our pediatric team take every step to make sure your child is comfortable throughout the procedure.
Gentle Dental Care That Makes Kids Smile
Creating positive dental experiences for children throughout Central Florida. From first teeth to teen years, we make dentistry fun and stress-free.
Gentle Dental Care That Makes Kids Smile
What Role Do Dental Crowns Play?
Dental crowns – “caps” placed on top of an existing tooth that fully cover the portion of the tooth above the gumline – are cemented over top of your child’s natural tooth to become the tooth’s new outer surface. Since it’s important to keep the primary tooth intact, a dental crown is a great temporary restoration option to save the baby tooth until the permanent tooth can erupt and take its place. These dental crowns can be restored in just one appointment and can be cared for just like any normal tooth that must be flossed and brushed.
Conditions We Treat
Designed to preserve the tooth and alleviate pain and discomfort, pulpotomy, pulpectomy, and pediatric root canal treatment plans tackle many different conditions.
- Deep tooth decay that has reached the pulp
- Trauma to the tooth that has a damaged pulp
- A crack fracture in the tooth that has exposed the pulp
- Trauma to the tooth that has damaged the pulp in the crown but not the root
- A tooth abscess
- A crack or fracture in the tooth that has exposed the pulp in the crown but not the root
Why Baby Teeth Matter
Many parents assume a cavity in a baby tooth is not a serious issue, since the tooth will eventually be replaced. In reality, primary teeth play a critical role in your child’s development that goes far beyond chewing.
Baby teeth hold the proper spacing in the jaw for incoming permanent teeth. When a primary tooth is lost too early, neighboring teeth can shift into the gap, causing crowding and alignment problems that may require orthodontic treatment down the road. Primary teeth also support your child’s speech development and their ability to eat a varied, nutritious diet. Keeping a damaged tooth in place through a pulpotomy, rather than extracting it prematurely, is often the better long-term choice for your child’s oral health.
Signs Your Child May Need a Pulpotomy
It is not always obvious when a child has a cavity that has advanced into the pulp. Children do not always communicate tooth pain clearly, so knowing what to look for can make a meaningful difference.
Parents should watch for the following signs that may indicate their child needs pulp therapy:
- Persistent toothache: Pain that doesn’t go away after a day or two, especially pain that wakes your child at night
- Sensitivity to temperature: Discomfort when eating or drinking something hot or cold that lingers beyond a few seconds
- Visible swelling: Puffiness around the gums near a particular tooth
- Darkening of the tooth: A tooth that appears noticeably darker than the surrounding teeth
- Difficulty chewing: Your child favoring one side of the mouth or avoiding certain foods
If you notice any of these signs, scheduling a prompt appointment gives us the best opportunity to evaluate the tooth and recommend the most conservative treatment possible. Early intervention typically means simpler, more comfortable treatment for your child.
What to Expect During the Procedure
For many families, knowing what the appointment involves helps ease anxiety for both children and parents. A pulpotomy at our Lake Nona, Orlando office is typically completed in a single visit and is far less involved than it may sound.
Before the Procedure
Our team will review your child’s dental X-rays to confirm the extent of the decay and determine whether the remaining root pulp is healthy enough to preserve. We will also take a few minutes to explain the process to your child in friendly, age-appropriate language so they feel informed and comfortable.
During the Procedure
The area around the tooth is numbed with local anesthesia so your child should not feel pain during the procedure. The infected coronal pulp is carefully removed, a biocompatible medicated material is placed over the remaining pulp, and the tooth is sealed. In most cases, a stainless steel crown is placed over the treated tooth the same day to provide long-term protection.
After the Procedure
Mild soreness is normal for a day or two following the appointment. Over-the-counter children’s pain relievers can help manage any discomfort. Your child should be able to return to normal activities the same day. Our team will provide specific aftercare instructions before you leave and is always available if you have questions during recovery.
Pulpotomy vs. Tooth Extraction
When a child has a badly decayed tooth, extraction may seem like the faster, simpler path. However, removing a tooth before it is naturally ready to come out carries real consequences. Our team at Esteem Dental always aims to preserve the natural tooth whenever possible.
A pulpotomy keeps the tooth in place, maintaining the arch length and guiding the permanent tooth into proper position. Extraction, by contrast, may require a space maintainer to prevent neighboring teeth from drifting, adding both complexity and additional visits. For most children with a viable primary molar or anterior tooth, pulpotomy is the preferred treatment when decay has reached the pulp but the roots remain healthy.
Gentle Pediatric Pulpotomy in Lake Nona, Orlando
At Esteem Dental, we are proud to offer comprehensive pediatric dental care at our Lake Nona, Orlando location, including pulpotomy treatment performed by our compassionate team. We understand that a dental procedure can feel daunting for young patients, and we go out of our way to create a calm, welcoming experience from the moment your child walks through the door. Our multi-specialty practice allows families to receive the pediatric, orthodontic, and general dental care they need all under one roof.
We accept most major insurance plans, including Aetna PPO, Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO, Cigna PPO, Delta Dental, UnitedHealthcare PPO, and Medicare, and offer flexible financing through CareCredit and LendingClub. Whether your child is coming in for a routine checkup or needs more involved treatment like a pulpotomy, our team is here to make the experience as comfortable as possible. If your child is showing signs of tooth pain or you have concerns about a cavity, we encourage you to reach out and schedule an appointment.
The Esteem Dental team is honored to serve Lake Nona and all of South Orlando with exceptional dental care. Let us know how our dental team can serve you and your family. We can’t wait to meet you!
