What Is a Pulpotomy and Why Would a Child Need It?

I noticed a dark spot on my son’s tooth and took him to see a pediatric dentist. He said it was a deep cavity and he’s going  to need a pulpotomy. I had a lot of questions but the dentist seemed frustrated with me. He snapped and said my son should have been to the dentist long before this and it could have been prevented. He’s only five and his teeth have been fine. Plus, they’re all baby teeth so they’re going to come out anyway. When I said that, he walked out. I was too embarrassed to ask his assistant so we just left. Can you tell me what a pulpotomy is? Also if it is serious?

Grace

Dear Grace,

First, I want to say that I am sorry your child’s dentist treated you that way. It is unproductive and unlikely to get your son the care he needs, as evidenced by you just leaving because of feeling embarrassed. I’m going to say right off the bat that I don’t think you are with the best dentist for your child’s needs.

A good pediatric dentist (or any type of dentist) is willing to answer your questions without animus or judgment. It does no good to a patient or a patient’s parent if their dentist derides them. They’ll be very unlikely to open up and ask questions if they’re afraid of being judged or lectured.

To answer your questions, a pulpotomy is a child’s version of a root canal treatment. It is necessary if the decay or tooth infection is on a tooth that needs to stay in place for a long time, such as a back molar, which needs to stay in it’s place until your son is at least twelve years old.

If the affected tooth is another baby tooth, then there really isn’t a need for a pulpotomy, but you will want to extract the tooth so that there isn’t a chance of spreading any decay or infection.  I do suggest you get a pediatric dentist who is willing to answer questions, though. Patience and kindness should be a baseline for anyone working with children. Don’t put this off. If this spreads it can turn into a dental emergency which would be frightening for your son.

Caring For Children’s Teeth

I can tell you are a good mother who cares about her son. Here are some quick tips that will help minimize his decay:

• Brush with a fluoride toothpaste and floss daily (you’re already doing this).
• Limit snacks and sugary drinks. His saliva is an important part of fighting decay. Frequent snacking keeps the minerals in his saliva from doing their job.
• Get regular cleanings and checkups from the dentist. Don’t wait for a problem. Prevention saves you a ton of money.
• Get sealants on his back teeth where there are tricky grooves to keep clean.

I hope this helps. This blog is brought to you by a gentle dentist in Naples, Dr. Andrea Cameron.