Question 1

What is vital pulp therapy?

Accepted Answer

Vital pulp therapy is a category of treatments designed to preserve the health and function of the dental pulp — the living tissue inside your tooth that contains nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. Unlike a full root canal, vital pulp therapy aims to keep the pulp in the root canals alive and healthy when the pulp has not yet become irreversibly inflamed or infected throughout the entire tooth.

Question 2

What is a pulpotomy and when is it recommended?

Accepted Answer

A pulpotomy is a form of vital pulp therapy in which the endodontist removes the diseased or inflamed pulp from the crown portion of the tooth while leaving the healthy pulp tissue in the root canals intact. It is recommended when deep decay has reached the pulp in the crown but the root pulp remains healthy, when a traumatic injury has caused pulp exposure without signs of infection in the roots, or when a child or adolescent has an immature tooth that still needs healthy pulp for root development.

Question 3

What is the difference between vital pulp therapy and a full root canal?

Accepted Answer

In a full root canal, all of the pulp tissue is removed from both the crown and the root canals — necessary when the pulp has become irreversibly inflamed, infected, or necrotic throughout the entire tooth. In vital pulp therapy and pulpotomy, only the compromised coronal pulp is removed and the living pulp in the roots is left in place and protected. Vital pulp therapy is less invasive, involves less tissue removal, and typically requires less recovery time.

Question 4

What is pulp capping?

Accepted Answer

Pulp capping is a form of vital pulp therapy used when the pulp is at risk but has not been fully exposed or when only a very small exposure exists. Direct pulp capping places a biocompatible material such as MTA directly over an exposed pulp to stimulate healing. Indirect pulp capping places a protective lining over a thin layer of affected dentin when decay is very close to but has not yet reached the pulp, allowing the tooth to heal and form secondary dentin.

Question 5

Is vital pulp therapy appropriate for children's teeth?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Pulpotomy is a standard and well-established treatment for primary (baby) teeth affected by deep decay, helping preserve the tooth until it naturally falls out and avoiding early loss that could affect jaw development and spacing. For immature permanent teeth, preserving living pulp allows the root to continue growing and strengthening, making vital pulp therapy especially valuable for children and teenagers.

Vital Pulp Therapy / Pulpotomy