Pulpotomies in Arlington Heights, IL

The soft tissue, also known as pulp, within your teeth requires special care. Our teeth are filled with nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue that may become diseased or inflamed due to infection. Damage to the tooth’s pulp may require specialized nerve procedures such as root canals or pulp treatments that are designed to save and restore the infected tooth.

What is pulp treatment?

If tooth pulp becomes diseased or begins to decay, your dentist may recommend pulp treatment to try and save the tooth as opposed to extracting it completely to rid your mouth of disease.

Pulp treatment (also referred to as nerve treatment or pulp therapy) may be recommended by your dentist for a variety of reasons, including:

• Deeply-rooted decay within the tooth’s pulp cavity
• Mouth injury or trauma to the tooth
• Infection, inflammation, or disease within the tooth

Pulp treatment is like a root canal, but is typically performed on primary teeth. Root canal procedures are used to treat permanent teeth with nerve and pulp problems.

There are two main types of pulp therapy procedures: pulpotomy and pulpectomy.

Pulpotomy is a restorative method used by dentists to prevent decay from spreading. This procedure may be used on its own to restore primary teeth, or it may also be used as the first step in root canal therapy. During this procedure only a portion of the pulp is removed with the hopes of preserving healthy pulp.

Pulpectomy is a dental procedure that completely removes diseased or decayed pulp from primary teeth. Unlike pulpotomies, the entire pulp chamber of the tooth is removed. This procedure can also be done as a part of the root canal process depending on a patient’s unique needs.

These nerve treatments can be performed by a general dentist, endodontist, or a pediatric dentist.

How do I know if I need nerve treatment?

Some common signs and symptoms of nerve damage and tooth pulp infections are:

• Mild to severe toothaches
• Sensitivity to sweet foods
• Tenderness to the touch
• Sensitivity to temperature

There may also be instances or disease and decay where no symptoms are present. That’s why it’s important to keep up with your dentist’s recommended preventative care visits and dental exams. Professional evaluation and x-rays of your teeth during regular checkups will you’re your dental care provider in identifying pulp and nerve concerns.