What Is Pulp Capping?

What Is Pulp Capping?

When the dental pulp is nearly or completely exposed by a deep cavity, from a traumatic injury, or during cavity preparation, the pulp can die. Pulp capping is a complex dental restoration technique used to prevent necrosis of the dental pulp.

At Newport Dental Group, Dr. Saghatchi and have the expertise to perform pulp capping to help prevent the need for a root canal treatment in the future.

WHAT IS DENTAL PULP TREATMENT?

The soft and bulky material of the teeth called dentin is covered by a hard outer layer of enamel. The pulp is a non-calcified, soft tissue that lies inside the dentin. It consists of connective tissue, nerves, and blood vessels. When damage due to a traumatic injury or bacterial exposure causes infection in the pulp, a root canal treatment becomes essential so that you don’t end up losing a tooth.

Sometimes, our dentists, however, can opt to treat healthy pulp tissue with an indirect or direct pulp cap to entirely avoid a root canal treatment. Pulp capping can also buy time for a damaged baby tooth until the permanent, healthy tooth erupts to replace the affected one.

WHAT IS DIRECT PULP CAPPING?

Direct pulp capping is done on permanent teeth when the pulp is exposed visibly due to trauma, carries, etc. In case the pulp appears symptomatic or infected, we might decide that performing a root canal is the best option according to the situation.

WHAT IS INDIRECT PULP CAPPING?

Indirect pulp capping is done when bacterial decay has reached very close to the pulpal chamber, threatening tooth survival and causing inflammation.