Root Canal Treatment: How It Saves Natural Teeth and Prevents Infection
February 10, 2026
Nov 4, 2025
You know that sharp, deep ache that won’t let you sleep, the one that makes your whole face throb and your jaw feel heavy? That’s often when people end up in a dentist’s chair, hearing unfamiliar words like “pulpotomy” or “pulpectomy”.
They sound intimidating, but both are simply treatments to save a tooth that’s in trouble. If you’ve ever wondered what these procedures mean, how they differ, and which one might apply to you or your child, let’s clear it up.
A tooth is far more than a chunk of enamel; it’s a living thing. In the middle is the “pulp,” which contains nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. If decay or fracture progresses to the pulp, infection may result, causing pain and inflammation.
Initially, you’ll experience slight sensitivity, but as the infection progresses, you may feel a sharp throbbing pain – particularly at night. Once the pulp has become infected, it “cannot heal itself”, and professional help is required in order to save the tooth.
Think of your tooth like a two-story house: the crown is the top floor, and the roots are the foundation.
A pulpotomy is a procedure that removes the diseased pulp tissue only from the crown portion of a tooth. The treated site is sanitized, and a therapeutic medicament is placed to protect the vital pulp. A filling or cap is then applied to the tooth, after which the tooth can be restored and shielded.
Pulpotomies are most commonly performed on primary teeth, especially when the decay hasn’t reached the root canals yet. The goal is to maintain the tooth until it’s naturally ready to fall out, preserving space for the permanent tooth below.
In adult teeth, a pulpotomy is occasionally used as a temporary emergency treatment to relieve pain and inflammation until a full root canal (or extraction) can be completed. The reason? The pulp in adult teeth rarely remains healthy long-term once exposed or infected. Without definitive treatment, the infection will usually return.
If the infection extends into the root canals, a pulpectomy becomes necessary.
With this operation, the whole of the pulp–that from the crown as well as that from the roots is extracted. The canals are then cleaned, disinfected, and sealed with a rubber-like material. The tooth is then restored with a crown or a filling that can protect it from further breakage.
A pulpectomy is essentially the first step of a root canal treatment. In children, a pulpectomy can’t be done in a baby tooth because the filler does not resorb during the exfoliation process. In adults, a pulpectomy is the start of full root canal therapy to preserve the tooth for the long term.
An X-ray helps your dentist determine how far the infection has spread.
You may need:
A pulpotomy if:
A pulpectomy if:
Does It Hurt?
Here’s the good news: both treatments are painless thanks to modern local anesthesia. You’ll feel pressure, but not pain.
After the procedure, mild soreness is normal for a few days, but it’s easily managed with over-the-counter pain relievers. Most patients feel much better than before treatment.
Extracting a tooth might sound easier, but preserving your natural tooth is nearly always the better option. Every tooth maintains spacing, helps you chew properly, and supports the jawbone.
When a tooth is removed, nearby teeth can drift, the bite can change, and bone loss can occur. A pulpotomy or pulpectomy helps you avoid more complex and expensive dental work later.
To promote healing:
If you’re swollen, feel pain that’s not going away, or are experiencing pressure, definitely get in touch with your dentist right away.
Pulpotomy: removes the top portion of infected pulp and is often used for children’s teeth or as temporary relief for adults.
Pulpectomy: removes all pulp tissue from both the crown and roots and is the first stage of a root canal.
Both treatments aim to save the tooth and stop infection, but only a pulpectomy (or full root canal) provides a lasting solution for adult teeth.
If a toothache is keeping you awake at night, don’t delay. All Smiles Dentistry in Allen, TX, offers gentle endodontics for both adults and children with the latest modern techniques. From simple pulpotomies to complete root canal therapy, we ensure your treatment is easy and stress-free.
Your natural smile is worth saving, and we’re here to help you do exactly that.
Both help preserve teeth and normal function. The treated ones, however, may be crowned and need regular checking to ensure no infection returns.
When a tooth pulp is found to be dead because of deeply decayed, infected, or abscessed, the pulpectomy is the treatment that should be done.
Usually, one can get back to normal activities in a shorter time after a pulpotomy. Recovery after a pulpectomy may take a few more days and require follow-up visits for a permanent restoration.
These are done under local anesthesia, so there is very little pain experienced during treatment. You may feel some mild soreness afterward, but it disappears within a few days.
Usually, a pulpotomy is done on the teeth of kids, however, the same operation can be carried out on the teeth of grown-ups if there is a traumatic injury or an accidental pulp exposure at an early stage.
Root Canal Treatment: How It Saves Natural Teeth and Prevents Infection
Stop Waiting for Pain: Why Prevention Beats Costly Dental Treatments
Pulpotomy vs. Pulpectomy: What’s the Difference
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