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Vital Pulpotomies in Pets

The Animal Dental Clinic performs vital pulpotomies for young pets, between 6-16 months old, that have freshly fractured teeth with pulp exposure. This procedure is an ideal option for saving vital or live teeth. Because a vital pulpotomy preserves live, healthy pulp within a damaged tooth, this procedure allows for the tooth to continue to develop and strengthen. This differs from root canal therapy which removes all pulp tissue (alive or dead) from a damaged tooth, causing the tooth to die and inhibiting further dentin growth over time.

(Young dog w/ large pulp canals   Older dog w/ small pulp canals)

As with all fractures, it is crucial that the tooth be examined by a veterinarian as soon as it is noticed. Freshly fractured teeth are very painful and therefore require pain medication. Dr. Battig recommends non-steroidal anti-inflammatories to minimize discomfort, and also recommends that your pet be started on antibiotics as soon as you decide that a vital pulpotomy is the best option for your pet.