Vital Pulpotomy for cats, dogs, rabbits and rodents
Vital pulpotomy with pulp capping is an endodontic procedure designed to treat recently exposed dental pulp tissue. This pulp exposure may occur unexpectedly from trauma resulting in tooth fracture. Pulp exposure may also occur unexpectedly during the treatment of carious lesions, or it may be anticipated during crown reduction
performed to treat traumatic malocclusions.
What is the difference between root canal therapy and vital pulpotomy?
Vital pulpotomy is also called "partial coronal pulpectomy" whereas root canal therapy is complete pulpectomy. If the entire pulp is removed, the tooth is dead and will not develop further.
Root canal therapy is performed on vital, dying and non-vital teeth. Vital pulpotomy is used only for vital or live teeth, therefore dental radiographs are always required to help determine that the teeth are living. Vital pulpotomy is not appropriate for discolored teeth with pulpitis.
Vital pulpotomy can be performed on teeth where root canal therapy is not advised. Very young teeth cannot be treated by root canal therapy because the root apex (end) has not formed. Once root canal therapy is performed, the tooth is non-vital (dead) and will not continue to develop. Vital pulpotomy can be performed on young teeth regardless of whether the apex (root end) has closed and the crown and root walls are inmature (thin and weak). Root canal therapy for weak teeth is not advised. These teeth will fail to develop after root canal therapy; they remain fragile and easily fracture. Treatment with vital pulpotomy is preferred because the tooth remains vital and continues to develop and strengthen.
Vital pulpotomy is most appropriate for young, inmature teeth. Root canal therapy is more appropriate for animals over eighteen months of age.
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Dog; 11 mos. Hockey puck fracture of left upper canine tooth.
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Dog; 11 months, dental radiograph demonstrates very early tooth development (thin walls and early root end closure). Tooth appears to be vital (alive). Was treated by vital pulpotomy.
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Dog; 7 month with traumatic malocclusion. The lower canines are puncturing holes into palate (roof of mouth). Tooth crowns are being reduced (cut off at the height of the incisors) and treated by vital pulpotomy and pulp capping.
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Crowns were reduced and capped.
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Completed vital pultomy with pulp capping. Three layers MTA, vitrebond and composite.
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Completed vital pulpotomy with pulp capping in three layers; MTA, vitrebond and composite.
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Another view of vital pulpotomy with pulp capping.
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Lower left canine was intentionally crown reduced and 5mm pulp was removed. Sterile paper points stop bleeding.
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MTA (pulp medication) was applied as a 2 mm layer. Vitrebond and composite layers were used to complete the procedure.
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Initial radiograph before vital pulpotomy. This puppy fractured the lower canine and the pulp was exposed and bleeding.
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This was the initial vital pulpotomy radiograph.
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This was the 6 month evaluation of the vital pulpotomy. Notice the dentine walls are growing and providing strength as the tooth develops.
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This is a 3 year follow up after the initial vital pulpotomy. The tooth continues to develop normally. The tooth remains vital, or alive.
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Vital pulpotomy is also a beneficial procedure for continually erupting teeth in rabbits, chinchillas, guinea pigs and other rodents that have been fractured and have pulp exposure. These animals must have teeth to survive. Fractured teeth with pulp exposure can become infected and die. Dead teeth no longer erupt. The result is severe life threatening malocclusion development.
Dog Dental Care
Cat Dental Care
Rabbit & Rodent Dental Care
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