If your child’s primary tooth has extensive decay, action may be needed to restore the integrity of the tooth and prevent infection from spreading to surrounding teeth, which may include the devloping permanent tooth sitting below it. After a set of X-rays are taken, your dentist will be able to assess the extent of the decay and may reccommend a pulpotomy.
Pulpotomy
When a cavity gets really deep, close to the pulp of a tooth, or even into the pulp, the pulpal tissue becomes irritated and inflamed. A pulpotomy is when the inflamed pulp chamber, usually on a baby molar, is removed. The dentist will remove all the infected material in the pulp of the crown only, leaving the living tooth root intact. After a pulpotomy on a baby molar, the empty space will be filled with a filling material and a stainless steel crown will be placed to restore the tooth.