Pulpotomy
Pronunciation: pul-POT-oh-mee
A procedure in which the coronal portion of the dental pulp is removed while the radicular pulp is preserved, most commonly performed on primary teeth.
Full Definition
A pulpotomy involves the surgical removal of the coronal pulp tissue — the portion of the pulp within the crown of the tooth — while leaving the vital radicular (root) pulp in situ. It is distinguished from a pulpectomy, in which the entire pulp is extirpated. In primary dentition, pulpotomy is a common treatment for deep caries with pulp exposure, often followed by placement of a medicament such as mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) or ferric sulphate. Editors should take care not to conflate 'pulpotomy' with 'pulpectomy' in paediatric dental records.
Usage
Usage note: Do not interchange 'pulpotomy' and 'pulpectomy'. A pulpotomy preserves the radicular pulp; a pulpectomy removes it entirely. This distinction is clinically and editorially significant in paediatric dentistry documents.
In Context
- "A pulpotomy was performed on the lower-right first primary molar, followed by stainless steel crown placement." — Paediatric dental clinical notes
- "The treatment protocol section erroneously described the procedure as a pulpectomy; this was corrected to pulpotomy to reflect preservation of the radicular pulp." — Editorial review note