At Dental at Keys, we understand that dental visits can be daunting for children. Our caring team provides gentle and effective treatments to keep your child’s smile healthy and pain-free. One common procedure we perform to save a baby tooth from infection is called a pulpotomy.
Your child’s dentist at Dental at Keys will perform a thorough dental examination, which includes:
A pulpotomy is suitable when:
A pulpotomy may not be the right option if:
If infection is present, a pulpectomy (baby root canal) or tooth removal may be needed instead.
At Dental at Keys, our dentists take every measure to ensure your child’s comfort and safety during treatment.
A small cotton pellet is placed over the pulp for a few minutes:
Once suitable, a restorative medication such as Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA) is placed to protect the remaining healthy pulp.
The tooth is then sealed tightly and finished with a stainless steel crown (SSC) to restore function and prevent future damage.
This crown acts as a strong protective cover, allowing the baby tooth to stay in place until it’s naturally ready to fall out.
The best way to avoid needing a pulpotomy is to catch cavities early and maintain excellent oral hygiene.
Here’s how you can help your child prevent decay:
Addressing any dental pain promptly — early treatment helps prevent more invasive procedures
If you’re interested in a Pulpotomy in Keysborough, we invite you to visit Dental at Keys for a personalised consultation.
In some cases, yes. For example, if a permanent tooth is injured or has a small pulp exposure, a partial pulpotomy may be done using MTA. However, if the tooth’s roots are fully developed, a root canal treatment is usually the preferred option.
A pulpotomy generally takes 30–40 minutes, depending on the tooth’s condition and your child’s cooperation.
A Cvek pulpotomy (or partial pulpotomy) involves removing only a few millimetres of exposed nerve tissue, typically after trauma to a permanent tooth. The area is then treated and sealed similarly to a pulpotomy.
Thanks to modern bio-compatible materials, even more conservative options may now be available in some cases.
A pulpotomy removes only the top part of the nerve inside the tooth’s crown.
A pulpectomy (baby root canal) removes all the nerve tissue, cleans the canals, and fills them with a special root filling material called Gutta Percha.
If a pulpotomy isn’t suitable — for example, if the tooth is already infected — the alternative may be tooth removal.
Leaving an infected tooth untreated can cause:
Hall Crowns are a type of Stainless Steel Crown (SSC) treatment commonly used on baby molar teeth. They’re a minimally invasive and highly effective treatment option that usually requires no drilling or anaesthetic — making them ideal for young children who may feel nervous at the dentist.
The most common reason your child may need a Hall Crown is due to tooth decay or cavities on baby teeth. Decay can occur because of diet, oral hygiene habits, or natural developmental factors affecting the enamel.
Other possible reasons include:
You may notice one or more of these symptoms:
Even if not every hypomineralised tooth needs a crown, your dentist will carefully assess the tooth’s health to determine if a Hall Crown is appropriate.
Your dental professional will first perform a comprehensive dental examination to assess your child’s oral health. This may include taking X-rays and doing a professional dental clean if needed.
The dentist will assess whether the decay has reached the pulp (nerve) of the tooth.
Hall Crowns are only suitable when:
Once the tooth is confirmed suitable, the procedure and its benefits are discussed and consented to with you and your child.
Small rubber separators are placed between the teeth on either side of the one being treated.
After placement:
Because of their minimally invasive nature, Hall Crowns can usually be done without anaesthetic and are well tolerated even by very young children. This approach can prevent the need for more extensive treatment later on.
To keep your child’s crown and teeth healthy:
If you’re interested in a Hall Crown in Keysborough, we invite you to visit Dental at Keys for a personalised consultation.
Yes. Stainless Steel Crowns are made from medical-grade metal alloys that are perfectly safe for children. They are durable, biocompatible, and designed specifically for use inside the mouth.
Once a cavity becomes moderately large, fillings tend to fail more easily in baby teeth. The bonding materials used for fillings don’t adhere as strongly to primary teeth, and as teeth move or erupt, fillings can loosen or fall out.
Stainless Steel Crowns provide greater protection and longevity, helping to preserve baby teeth until they naturally fall out.
We like to make it fun! We often call it a “superhero tooth” or a “robot tooth.” Many children love showing off their special new tooth — and usually realise that some of their friends have them too.
