---
title: "What Is Pulpotomy? Dental Glossary | Town Center Dental"
description: "A pulpotomy removes the diseased part of the pulp in the crown of a tooth and leaves the healthy pulp in the root. It is most often done on baby teeth."
url: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/pulpotomy
publisher: Town Center Dental
phone: +1-636-273-5866
quote: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment
---

Procedures

# Pulpotomy

A pulpotomy removes the diseased part of the pulp in the crown of a tooth and leaves the healthy pulp in the root. It is most often done on baby teeth.

A pulpotomy is treatment for tooth decay that affects the pulp inside the crown of your tooth. It removes the infected tooth pulp from the crown but leaves the tooth root alone. It is sometimes called a baby root canal.

The ADA defines pulpotomy as removal of a portion of the pulp, including the diseased part, with the goal of keeping the rest of the pulp alive. A soothing dressing is placed on what remains.

It is a common treatment for inflammation or infection in a child's tooth. A pulpotomy is different from a full [root canal](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/root-canal-therapy). See [tooth pulp](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/tooth-pulp) and [pulp cap](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/pulp-cap). Our office describes care for children on its [children's dentistry page](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/services/dentistry-for-kids).

[Town Center Dental can helpDentistry for Kids](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/services/dentistry-for-kids)

## Related terms

-   [Tooth pulp](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/tooth-pulp)
-   [Pulp cap](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/pulp-cap)
-   [Root canal therapy](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/root-canal-therapy)
-   [Primary molars](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/primary-molars)
-   [Stainless steel crown](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/stainless-steel-crown)

## Sources

1.  [Cleveland Clinic: Pulpotomy: Procedure & Recovery](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/procedures/pulpotomy)
2.  [American Dental Association: Glossary of Dental Terms](https://www.ada.org/publications/cdt/glossary-dental-terms)

## Ready when you are

[Request an appointment](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment)[Call (636) 273-5866](tel:+1-636-273-5866)