Any tooth where a deep cavity has come close to the nerve but the nerve is still healthy.
Pulp capping
Protecting a nerve that is very close to, or just touching, a deep cavity, so a root treatment may not be needed at all.
“The hole in your tooth got very close to the sleepy part inside, so we put a little cushion over it to keep it safe, then fill the hole.”
How we explain it
What happens
Step by step
- 1Decay is removed carefully, stopping just short of the nerve.
- 2A protective, healing material is placed over the exposed or nearly exposed nerve.
- 3The tooth is sealed with a filling on top, and monitored at later check-ups to confirm the nerve has stayed healthy.
What your child will feel
The same as a filling, numb throughout, some vibration and pressure.
Parents ask