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Also called a baby root canal

Saving Your Child’s
Tooth, Gently

A pulpotomy is a simple, kid-friendly way to save a badly decayed baby tooth. If your child’s dentist mentioned one, take a breath. It’s not what you’re picturing.

Schedule Your Child’s Visit Call (203) 324-6171
  • ✓ Same-day appointments available
  • ✓ Most insurance accepted

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Diagram of a baby tooth showing the crown, the pulp at its centre, and the root, with the portion a pulpotomy removes shaded

In plain English

What Is a Pulpotomy, Really?

Every tooth has a soft center called the pulp. When a cavity gets deep enough to reach that center, a regular filling isn’t enough. A pulpotomy cleans out just the top part of the pulp, treats what’s healthy underneath, and covers the tooth with a small crown to protect it. The rest of the tooth stays alive and stays put until it falls out on its own, right on schedule.

  • Not the same as an adult root canal
  • Adult root canals remove the whole nerve
  • A pulpotomy removes only the infected part
  • So the tooth stays alive

Visit Dental Care Kids

1500 Summer Street, Stamford, CT  ·  (203) 324-6171

First things first

This is not the root canal you’re imagining. A pulpotomy is much simpler than an adult root canal. Most kids handle it about as well as they handle a regular filling.

  1. 1

    Clean out the top

    Only the decayed part of the tooth and the infected top portion of the pulp come out. The healthy pulp underneath stays put.

  2. 2

    Treat what’s healthy

    A special pediatric medicine is placed to keep the healthy pulp safe and settled.

  3. 3

    Cap it with a crown

    A small stainless steel or ceramic crown goes on top so the tooth keeps working until it falls out naturally.

We have plenty of comfort options if your child needs them. Read on for what actually happens.

How Do I Know My Child Needs a Pulpotomy?

Your child may need one if they have

  1. 1

    A deep cavity

    One that’s reached, or is close to, the nerve of the tooth.

  2. 2

    A toothache

    Pain or sensitivity in a specific tooth.

  3. 3

    Swelling or a gum pimple

    A swollen gum, pimple, or visible infection near the tooth.

  4. 4

    A cracked tooth

    A fall or accident that cracked the tooth and exposed the pulp.

A hand-painted underwater mural in a Dental Care Kids treatment room

How we figure it out

We use a quick clinical exam, digital X-rays (much less radiation than old-style film), and sometimes a sensitivity test to tell whether decay has actually reached the nerve.

  • ✓ A quick clinical exam
  • ✓ Low-dose digital X-rays
  • ✓ Sometimes a sensitivity test

What to Expect on the Day

Most pulpotomies are done in one visit, usually 45 to 60 minutes, and paired with a small pediatric crown to protect the tooth afterward. Here’s the full flow.

  1. 1

    The Walk-Through

    Before we start anything, we show your child what’s coming using our “show, tell, do” method. Every tool gets a demo. Every step gets a preview.

  2. 2

    Comfort Options

    Depending on your child’s age and comfort level, we may add nitrous oxide (“laughing gas”), oral sedation, or IV sedation. See our comfort options below for details.

  3. 3

    Numbing

    The tooth and gum are fully numbed with a small numbing gel first, then a gentle injection. Most kids don’t even notice the injection once the gel has done its work.

  4. 4

    Cleaning It Out

    The dentist gently removes the decayed part of the tooth and the infected part of the pulp. The healthy pulp underneath stays put.

  5. 5

    Medicine and Crown

    A special pediatric medicine is placed to keep the healthy pulp safe. Then a small stainless steel or ceramic crown goes on top to protect the tooth.

  6. 6

    Prize Time

    Balloon, prize, big celebration on the way out. Your child leaves feeling proud, not scared.

Numb for a few hours after. Your child’s cheek and lip will feel funny until the numbness wears off (usually 1 to 3 hours). Soft foods until then, and remind them not to chew or bite their cheek.

Sedation, if Your Child Needs It

Not every child needs sedation for a pulpotomy. Many do just fine with a numbing shot and our show-tell-do approach. But for younger kids, anxious kids, or extensive treatment, we have options.

  • Nitrous Oxide

    The lightest option. Kid picks a mask flavor. Kicks in fast, wears off fast. Perfect for a little extra help relaxing.

    Learn more →

  • Oral Sedation

    A liquid your child drinks about 30 to 45 minutes before treatment. Produces a relaxed, drowsy state.

    Learn more →

  • IV Sedation

    Deeper sedation delivered through an IV line. Best for extensive work or bigger anxiety. Your child sleeps through the procedure.

    Learn more →

  • General Anesthesia

    Full sleep, done in a hospital or surgical facility. Reserved for very young children or extensive treatment plans.

    Learn more →

DCK Moments

We have FUN at Dental Care Kids!

View Our Gallery
  • A Dental Care Kids patient with a team member by the hand-painted mural
  • A young Dental Care Kids patient smiling after her visit
  • Dental Care Kids patients wearing fun glasses and holding a balloon
  • A Dental Care Kids team member holding a baby by the clownfish mural

Why We Save Baby Teeth Whenever We Can

Parents sometimes ask, “Can’t we just pull the tooth since it’s going to fall out anyway?” Here’s why we usually don’t.

Baby teeth save the spot

Every baby tooth holds space for the permanent tooth coming in behind it. Lose it early, and neighboring teeth can drift into the gap, causing crooked or crowded permanent teeth later.

Kids need them to eat

Chewing well matters for nutrition and jaw development. Missing baby teeth can make eating harder than parents realize.

Front teeth help with speech

Certain sounds (like “f,” “th,” and “v”) depend on the front teeth. Losing them too early can affect how your child’s speech develops.

Confidence matters

Kids notice when a tooth is missing. A saved tooth means no self-consciousness in class photos, school pictures, or the mirror.

Parent questions

Common Questions From Parents

Short answers to what parents ask us most. Still wondering about something? Call our Stamford team.

Need a personal answer?

Call (203) 324-6171
Will my child feel any pain?
The tooth and gum are fully numbed before we start, so your child shouldn’t feel pain during the procedure. Some mild soreness for a day or two after is normal and easily managed with children’s ibuprofen. Most kids are back to normal by the next morning.
How long does it take?
Most pulpotomies take 45 to 60 minutes from start to finish, including the crown that goes on top.
How much does it cost? Does insurance cover it?
Most PPO dental insurance plans cover pulpotomies as a covered procedure (typically at the “major” tier, so 50 percent after deductible depending on your plan). Husky covers pulpotomies for children up to age 20. We verify your benefits before treatment and give you a written estimate. See our insurance and financing page.
Why can’t we just pull the tooth?
Sometimes we do, if the tooth is truly beyond saving. But most of the time, keeping a baby tooth in place until it falls out naturally is the better long-term choice. Losing a baby tooth too early can lead to crowded or crooked permanent teeth later, plus problems with chewing and sometimes speech.
How long will the crown last?
A well-placed pediatric crown lasts until the baby tooth falls out naturally, usually around age 10 to 12 for back molars. When the tooth is ready to come out, the crown comes with it (and often ends up under a pillow).
What if my child is really scared?
We’ve got you covered. Nitrous oxide, oral sedation, IV sedation, and general anesthesia are all available, and our team is specifically trained to help anxious kids through treatment. If your child has had a bad experience before, tell us at booking so we can plan around it.
What happens after the visit?
Your child will be numb for a few hours (soft foods only until it wears off). Mild soreness for 1 to 2 days is normal. Back to normal eating by day 2 or 3. Regular brushing and flossing right around the treated tooth.

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The Dental Care Kids pediatric team in the underwater-mural hallway

Experience the difference

Where Your Child’s Bright Dental Future Begins!

At Dental Care Kids, every visit is built around your child’s comfort, curiosity, and confidence. Our board-certified pediatric specialists and kid-loving team make dental care something families actually look forward to.

Contact & location

Call (203) 324-6171 to schedule your child’s visit, or reach us at frontdesk@dentalcarekids.com.

1500 Summer St., 2nd Floor, Stamford, CT

We serve families across Stamford, Greenwich, New Canaan, Darien, and nearby Westchester County, NY.

Evening and Saturday appointments available

Request Appointment Call (203) 324-6171