What is a pulpotomy?
A pulpotomy is a dental procedure in which the coronal portion of the tooth's pulp (nerve tissue) is removed while the radicular pulp in the root remains intact, typically performed on primary teeth to treat deep decay or infection.
A pulpotomy removes the upper chamber of the tooth's pulp system, leaving the nerve tissue in the root canals untouched. This partial removal is standard treatment for baby teeth that have severe decay, traumatic injury, or internal infection but can still function naturally before they shed.
The procedure differs from root canal therapy, which removes all pulp tissue from crown to apex. Since primary teeth are destined to be shed, a pulpotomy preserves more tooth structure and requires less extensive treatment. Dentists perform pulpotomies using medicating agents like ferric sulfate or formocresol to stop bleeding and disinfect the remaining tissue, then place a restoration such as a crown to seal the tooth.
Pulpotomy is cost-effective and less invasive than extraction or root canal treatment, making it the preferred option for maintaining baby teeth in function. A tooth treated this way typically remains serviceable until natural exfoliation occurs, which helps guide eruption of the permanent successor tooth and maintain proper spacing in the developing dentition.
Practitioners in pediatric dentistry perform pulpotomies routinely as part of primary tooth management in Kuala Lumpur and across Malaysia.