What does “Vital pulp therapy” mean?
Vital pulp therapy aims to maintain function by retaining all or part of the living pulp. In deep decay or pulp exposure, the condition of the tissue to be retained and the ability to seal the tooth are assessed.
What treatments are included?
Options include indirect approaches that protect the pulp while avoiding exposure, direct capping of exposed pulp, and pulpotomy that removes some pulp tissue. The extent of tissue removal differs even within vital pulp therapy.
What determines the choice?
Symptoms, pulp tests, the cause of exposure, tissue bleeding and vitality, and the ability to seal the tooth well are considered together. Suitability is not determined by age or pain alone.
Does its goal differ from root canal treatment?
Root canal treatment removes tissue and infection from inside the canals and fills them. Vital pulp therapy focuses on retaining living tissue, but additional root canal treatment may be needed depending on the subsequent course.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can pulp preservation be attempted in adult permanent teeth?
It may be considered in permanent teeth with fully developed roots under suitable conditions. It is not a treatment limited to immature teeth in children.
Does severe pain make preservation impossible?
Symptoms alone cannot establish the condition of all the tissue. Direct tissue findings and test results are considered together to determine the extent of preservation or the need for root canal treatment.
Questions about vital pulp therapy
Learn what the term means and how it relates to your dental condition.
- Sufficient understanding
How much pulp will be retained?
Explanation and evidenceAsk for an explanation of pulp capping and partial or full pulpotomy in relation to the condition of your tooth.
American Association of Endodontists · Vital Pulp Therapy Position Statement - A choice suited to your condition
How will the final restoration and follow-up examinations be managed?
Explanation and evidenceSealing against recontamination and monitoring the pulp and tissues around the root are part of treatment.
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry · Guideline for Use of Vital Pulp Therapy in Permanent Teeth
