AAPD’s guidelines on pulp therapy for primary and immature permanent teeth

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The primary objective of pulp therapy is to maintain the integrity and health of the teeth and their supporting tissues. It is a treatment objective to maintain the vitality of the pulp of a tooth affected by caries, traumatic injury, or other causes. Especially in young permanent teeth with immature roots, the pulp is integral to continue apexogenesis. Long term retention of a permanent tooth requires a root with a favorable crown/root ratio and dentinal walls that are thick enough to withstand normal function. Therefore, pulp preservation is a primary goal for treatment of the young permanent dentition. A tooth without a vital pulp, however, can remain clinically functional.

The indications, objectives, and type of pulpal therapy depend on whether the pulp is vital or nonvital, based on the clinical diagnosis of normal pulp (symptom free and normally responsive to vitality testing), reversible pulpitis (pulp is capable of healing), symptomatic or asymptomatic irreversible pulpitis (vital inflamed pulp is incapable of healing), or necrotic pulp. The clinical diagnosisis derived from a: comprehensive medical history; review of past and present dental history and treatment, including current symptoms and chief complaint; subjective evaluation of the area associated with the current symptoms/chief complaint by questioning the child and parent on the location, intensity, duration, stimulus, relief, and spontaneity; objective extraoral examination as well as examination of the intraoral soft and hard tissues; if obtainable, radiograph(s) to diagnose pulpitis or ne- crosis showing the involved tooth, furcation, periapical area, and the surrounding bone; and clinical tests such as palpation, percussion, and mobility.

In permanent teeth, electric pulp tests and thermal tests may be helpful.Teeth exhibiting signs and/or symptoms such as a history of spontaneous unprovoked toothache, a sinus tract, soft tissue inflammation not resulting from gingivitis or periodontitis, excessive mobility not associated with trauma orexfoliation, furcation/apical radiolucency, or radiographic evi-dence of internal/external resorption have a clinical diagnosis of irreversible pulpitis or necrosis. These teeth are candidates for nonvital pulp treatment.

Teeth exhibiting provoked pain of short duration relieved with over-the-counter analgesics, by brushing, or upon the removal of the stimulus and without signs or symptoms of irre-versible pulpitis, have a clinical diagnosis of reversible pulp-itis and are candidates for vital pulp therapy. Teeth diagnosedwith a normal pulp requiring pulp therapy or with reversible pulpitis should be treated with vital pulp procedures.

Recommendations

All relevant diagnostic information, treatment, and treatment follow-up shall be documented in the patient’s record.

Any planned treatment should include consideration of:

1. the patient’s medical history;

2. the value of each involved tooth in relation to the child’s overall development;

3. alternatives to pulp treatment; and

4. restorability of the tooth.

When the infectious process cannot be arrested by the treatment methods included in this section, bony support can-not be regained, inadequate tooth structure remains for a resto­ration, or excessive pathologic root resorption exists, extraction should be considered.

It is recommended that all pulp therapy be performed with rubber-dam or other equally effective isolation to minimize bacterial contamination of the treatment site.

This guideline is intended to recommend the best currently-available clinical care for pulp treatment, but the AAPD encourages additional research for consistently success­ful and predictable techniques using biologically-compatible medicaments for vital and nonvital primary and immature permanent teeth. Pulp therapy requires periodic clinical and radiographic assessment of the treated tooth and the supporting structures. Post-operative clinical assessment generally should be performed every 6 months and could occur as part of a patient’s periodic comprehensive oral examinations. Patients treated for an acute dental infection initially may require more frequent clinical reevaluation. A radiograph of a primary tooth pulpec­tomy should be obtained immediately following the procedure to document the quality of the fill and to help determine the tooth’s prognosis. This image also would serve as a comparative baseline for future films (the type and frequency of which are at the clinician’s discretion). Radiographic evaluation of primary tooth pulpotomies should occur at least annually because the success rate of pulpotomies diminishes over time. Since failure of a primary molar pulpotomy may be evidenced in the furca­tion, posterior tooth pulpotomies should be monitored by radiographs that clearly demonstrate the interradicular area. Bitewing radiographs obtained as part of the patient’s periodic comprehensive examinations may suffice. If a bitewing radio­graph does not display the interradicular area, a periapical image is indicated. Pulp therapy for immature permanent teeth should be reevaluated radiographically 6 and 12 months after treatment and then periodically at the discretion of the clini­cian. For any tooth that has undergone pulpal therapy, clini­cal signs and/or symptoms may prompt a clinician to select a more frequent periodicity of reassessment.

Apexification, reimplantation of avulsions, and placement of prefabricated post and cores are not indicated for primary teeth. 

        

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Primary teeth

 

Vital pulp therapy for primary teeth diagnosed with ab normal pulp or reversible pulpitis

Protective liner

A protective liner is a thinly-applied liquid placed on the pulpal surface of a deep cavity preparation, covering exposed dentin tubules, to act as a protective barrier between the restorative material or cement and the pulp. Placement of a thin protective liner such as calcium hydroxide, dentin bonding agent, or glass ionomer cement is at the discretion of the clinician.

• Indications: In a tooth with a normal pulp, when all caries is removed for a restoration, a protective liner may be placed in the deep areas of the preparation to minimize injury to the pulp, promote pulp tissue healing, and/or minimize postoperative sensitivity.

• Objectives: The placement of a liner in a deep area of the preparation is utilized to preserve the tooth’s vitality, promote pulp tissue healing and tertiary dentin formation, and minimize bacterial microleakage. Adverse post-treatment clinical signs or symptoms such as sensitivity, pain, or swelling should not occur.

 

Indirect pulp treatment

Indirect pulp treatment is a procedure performed in a tooth with a deep carious lesion approximating the pulp but without signs or symptoms of pulp degeneration. The caries surrounding the pulp is left in place to avoid pulp exposure and is covered with a biocompatible material. A radiopaque liner such as a dentin bonding agent, resin modified glass ionomer, calcium hydroxide, zinc oxide/eugenol, or glass ionomer cement is placed over the remaining carious dentin to stimulate healing and repair. If calcium hydroxide is used, a glass ionomer or reinforced zinc oxide/eugenol material should be placed over it to provide a seal against microleakage since calcium hydroxide has a high solubility, poor seal, and low compressive strength. The use of glass ionomer cements or reinforced zinc oxide/eugenol restorative materials has the additional advantage of inhibitory activity against cariogenic bacteria. The tooth then is restored with a material that seals the tooth from microleakage. Interim therapeutic restorations (ITR) with glass ionomers can used for caries control in teeth with carious lesions that exhibit signs of reversible pulpitis. The ITR can be removed once the pulp’s vitality is determined and, if the pulp is vital, an indirect pulp cap can be performed. Current literature indicates that there is inconclusive evidence that it is necessary to reenter the tooth to remove the residual caries. As long as the tooth remains sealed from bacterial contamination, the prognosis is good for caries to arrest and reparative dentin to form to protect the pulp. Indirect pulp capping has been shown to have a higher success rate than pulpotomy in long term studies. It also allows for a normal exfoliation time.

Therefore, indirect pulp treatment is preferable to a pulpotomy when the pulp is normal or has a diagnosis of reversible pulpitis.

Indications: Indirect pulp treatment is indicated in a primary tooth with no pulpitis18 or with reversible pulpitis when the deepest carious dentin is not removed to avoid a pulp exposure.8 The pulp is judged by clinical and radiographic criteria to be vital and able to heal from the carious insult.

Objectives: The restorative material should seal completely the involved dentin from the oral environment. The tooth’s vitality should be preserved. No post-treatment signs or symptoms such as sensitivity, pain, or swelling should be evident. There should be no radiographic evidence of pathologic external or internal root resorption or other pathologic changes. There should be no harm to the succedaneous tooth. 

        

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Direct pulp cap

When a pinpoint mechanical exposure of the pulp is encountered during cavity preparation or following a traumatic injury, a biocompatible radiopaque base such as mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) or calcium hydroxide may be placed in contact with the exposed pulp tissue. The tooth is restored with a material that seals the tooth from microleakage.

• Indications: This procedure is indicated in a primary tooth with a normal pulp following a small mechanical or traumatic exposure when conditions for a favorable response are optimal. Direct pulp capping of a carious pulp exposure in a primary tooth is not recommended.

• Objectives: The tooth’s vitality should be maintained. No post-treatment signs or symptoms such as sensitivity, pain, or swelling should be evident. Pulp healing and reparative dentin formation should result. There should be no radiographic signs of pathologic external or progressive internal root resorption or furcation/apical radiolucency. There should be no harm to the succedaneous tooth.

Pulpotomy

A pulpotomy is performed in a primary tooth with extensive caries but without evidence of radicular pathology when caries removal results in a carious or mechanical pulp exposure. The coronal pulp is amputated, and the remaining vital radicular pulp tissue surface is treated with a long-term clinically- successful medicament such as Buckley’s Solution of formocresol or ferric sulfate. Electrosurgery also has demonstrated success. Gluteraldehyde and calcium hydroxide have been used but with less long-term success. MTA is a more recent material used for pulpotomies with a high rate of success. Clinical trials show that MTA performs equal to or better than formocresol or ferric sulfate and may be the preferred pulpotomy agent in the future. After the coronal pulp chamber is filled with zinc/oxide eugenol or other suitable base, the tooth is restored with a restoration that seals the tooth from microleakage. The most effective long-term restoration has been shown to be a stainless steel crown. However, if there is sufficient supporting enamel remaining, amalgam or composite resin can provide a functional alternative when the primary tooth has a life span of 2 years or less.

• Indications: The pulpotomy procedure is indicated when caries removal results in pulp exposure in a primary tooth with a normal pulp or reversible pulpitis or after a traumatic pulp exposure. The coronal tissue is amputated, and the remaining radicular tissue is judged to be vital without suppuration, purulence, necrosis, or excessive hemorrhage that cannot be controlled by a damp cotton pellet after several minutes, and there are no radiographic signs of infection or pathologic resorption.

• Objectives: The radicular pulp should remain asymptomatic without adverse clinical signs or symptoms such as sensitivity, pain, or swelling. There should be no postoperative radiographic evidence of pathologic external root resorption. Internal root resorption can be self limiting and stable. The clinician should monitor the internal resorption, removing the affected tooth if perforation causes loss of supportive bone and/or clinical signs of infection and inflammation. There should be no harm to the succedaneous tooth. 

        

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Nonvital pulp treatment for primary teeth diagnosed with irreversible pulpitis or necrotic pulp

Pulpectomy

Pulpectomy is a root canal procedure for pulp tissue that is irreversibly infected or necrotic due to caries or trauma. The root canals are debrided and shaped with hand or rotary files. Since instrumentation and irrigation with an inert solution alone cannot adequately reduce the microbial population in a root canal system, disinfection with irrigants such as 1% sodium hypochlorite and/or chlorhexidine is an important step in assuring optimal bacterial decontamination of the canals. Because it is a potent tissue irritant, sodium hypochlorite must not be extruded beyond the apex. After the canals are dried, a resorbable material such as nonreinforced zinc/oxideeugenol, iodoform-based paste (KRI), or a combination paste of iodoform and calcium hydroxide (Vitapex®, Endoflax®) is used to fill the canals. The tooth then is restored with a restoration that seals the tooth from microleakage.

• Indications: A pulpectomy is indicated in a primary tooth with irreversible pulpitis or necrosis or a tooth treatment planned for pulpotomy in which the radicular pulp exhibits clinical signs of irreversible pulpitis (eg, excessive hemorrhage that is not controlled with a damp cotton pellet applied for several minutes) or pulp necrosis (eg, suppration, purulence). The roots should exhibit minimal or no resorption.

• Objectives: Following treatment, the radiographic infectious process should resolve in 6 months, as evidenced by bone deposition in the pretreatment radiolucent areas, and pretreatment clinical signs and symptoms should resolve within a few weeks. There should be radiographic evidence of successful filling without gross overextension or underfilling. The treatment should permit resorption of the primary tooth root and filling material to permit normal eruption of the succedaneous tooth. There should be no pathologic root resorption or furcation/apical radiolucency. 

        

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Young permanent teeth

Vital pulp therapy for teeth diagnosed with a normal pulp or reversible pulpitis

Protective liner

A protective liner is a thinly-applied liquid placed on the pulpal surface of a deep cavity preparation, covering exposed dentin tubules, to act as a protective barrier between the restorative material or cement and the pulp. Placement of a thin protective liner such as calcium hydroxide, dentin bonding agent, or glass ionomer cement is at the discretion of the clinician. The liner must be followed by a well-sealed restoration to minimize bacterial leakage from the restoration-dentin interface.

• Indications: In a tooth with a normal pulp, when caries is removed for a restoration, a protective liner may be placed in the deep areas of the preparation to minimize pulp injury, promote pulp tissue healing, and/or minimize postoperative sensitivity.

• Objectives: The placement of a liner in a deep area of the preparation is utilized to preserve the tooth’s vitality, promote pulp tissue healing, and facilitate tertiary dentin formation. This liner must be followed by a well-sealed restoration to minimize bacterial leakage from the restoration-dentin interface. Adverse post-treatment signs or symptoms such as sensitivity, pain, or swelling should not occur.

Indirect pulp treatment

Indirect pulp treatment is a procedure performed in a tooth with a diagnosis of reversible pulpitis and deep caries that might otherwise need endodontic therapy if the decay was completely removed. In recent years, rather than complete the caries removal in 2 appointments, the focus has been to excavate as close as possible to the pulp, place a protective liner, and restore the tooth without a subsequent reentry to remove any remaining affected dentin. The risk of this approach is either an unintentional pulp exposure or irreversible pulpitis. More recently, the step-wise excavation of deep caries has been revisited and shown to be successful in managing reversible pulpitis without pulpal perforation and/or endodontic therapy. This approach involves a 2-step process. The first step is the removal of carious dentin along the dentin-enamel junction (DEJ) and excavation of only the outermost infected dentin, leaving a carious mass over the pulp. The objective is to change the cariogenic environment in order to decrease the number of bacteria, close the remaining caries from the biofilm of the oral cavity, and slow or arrest the caries development. The second step is the removal of the remaining caries and placement of a final restoration. The most common recom-mendation for the interval between steps is 3-6 months, allowing sufficient time for the formation of tertiary dentin and a definitive pulpal diagnosis. Critical to both steps of excavation is the placement of a well-sealed restoration. The decision to use a one-appointment caries excavation or a step-wise technique should be based on the individual patient circumstances since the research available is inconclusive on which approach is the most successful over time.

• Indications: Indirect pulp treatment is indicated in a permanent tooth diagnosed with a normal pulp with no symptoms of pulpitis or with a diagnosis of reversible pulpitis. The pulp is judged by clinical and radiographic criteria to be vital and able to heal from the carious insult.

• Objectives: The intermediate and/or final restoration should seal completely the involved dentin from the oral environment. The vitality of the tooth should be preserved. No post-treatment signs or symptoms such as sensitivity, pain, or swelling should be evident. There should be no radiographic evidence of internal or external root resorption or other pathologic changes. Teeth with immature roots should show continued root development and apexogenesis. 

        

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Direct pulp cap

When a small exposure of the pulp is encountered during cavity preparation and after hemorrhage control is obtained, the exposed pulp is capped with a material such as calcium hydroxide or MTA prior to placing a restoration that seals the tooth from microleakage.

• Indications: Direct pulp capping is indicated for a permanent tooth that has a small carious or mechanical exposure in a tooth with a normal pulp.

• Objectives: The tooth’s vitality should be maintained. No post-treatment clinical signs or symptoms of sensitivity, pain, or swelling should be evident. Pulp healing and reparative dentin formation should occur. There should be no radiographic evidence of internal or external root resorption, periapical radiolucency, abnormal calcification, or other pathologic changes. Teeth with immature roots should show continued root development and apexogenesis. 

        

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Partial pulpotomy for carious exposures

The partial pulpotomy for carious exposures is a procedure in which the inflamed pulp tissue beneath an exposure is removed to a depth of 1 to 3 mm or deeper to reach healthy pulp tissue. Pulpal bleeding must be controlled by irrigation with a bacteriocidal agent such as sodium hypochlorite or chlorhexidine before the site is covered with calcium hydroxide or MTA. While calcium hydroxide has been demonstrated to have long-term success, MTA results in more predictable dentin bridging and pulp health. MTA (at least 1.5 mm thick) should cover the exposure and surrounding dentin followed by a layer of light cured resin-modified glass ionomer. A restoration that seals the tooth from microleakage is placed.

• Indications: A partial pulpotomy is indicated in a young permanent tooth for a carious pulp exposure in which the pulpal bleeding is controlled within several minutes. The tooth must be vital, with a diagnosis of normal pulp or reversible pulpitis.

• Objectives: The remaining pulp should continue to be vital after partial pulpotomy. There should be no adverse clinical signs or symptoms such as sensitivity, pain, or swelling. There should be no radiographic sign of internal or external resorption, abnormal canal calcification, or periapical radiolucency postoperatively. Teeth having immature roots should continue normal root development and apexogenesis. 

        

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Partial pulpotomy for traumatic exposures (Cvek pulpotomy)

The partial pulpotomy for traumatic exposures is a procedure in which the inflamed pulp tissue beneath an exposure is removed to a depth of 1 to 3 mm or more to reach the deeper healthy tissue. Pulpal bleeding is controlled using bacteriodical irrigants such as sodium hypochlorite or chlorhexidine, and the site then is covered with calcium hydroxide or MTA. White, rather than gray, MTA is recommended in anterior teeth to decrease the chance of discoloration. The 2 versions have been shown to have similar properties.

While calcium hydroxide has been demonstrated to have long-term success, MTA results in more predictable dentin bridging and pulp health. MTA (at least 1.5 mm thick) should cover the exposure and surrounding dentin, followed by a layer of light-cured resin-modified glass ionomer. A restoration that seals the tooth from microleakage is placed.

• Indications: This pulpotomy is indicated for a vital, mtraumatically-exposed, young permanent tooth, especially one with an incompletely formed apex. Pulpal bleeding after removal of inflamed pulpal tissue must be controlled. Neither time between the accident and treatment nor size of exposure is critical if the inflamed superficial pulp tissue is amputated to healthy pulp.

• Objectives: The remaining pulp should continue to be vital after partial pulpotomy. There should be no adverse clinical signs or symptoms of sensitivity, pain, or swelling. There should be no radiographic signs of internal or external resorption, abnormal canal calcification, or periapical radiolucency post-operatively. Teeth with immature roots should show continued normal root development and apexogenesis.

Apexogenesis (root formation)

Apexogenesis is a histological term used to describe the continued physiologic development and formation of the root’s apex. Formation of the apex in vital, young, permanent teeth can be accomplished by implementing the appropriate vital pulp therapy previously described in this section (ie, indirect pulp treatment, direct pulp capping, partial pulpotomy for carious exposures and traumatic exposures). 

        

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Nonvital pulp treatment      

Pulpectomy (conventional root canal treatment)

Pulpectomy in apexified permanent teeth is conventional root canal (endodontic) treatment for exposed, infected, and/or necrotic teeth to eliminate pulpal and periradicular infection. In all cases, the entire roof of the pulp chamber is removed to gain access to the canals and eliminate all coronal pulp tissue. Following debridement, disinfection, and shaping of the root canal system, obturation of the entire root canal is accomplished with a biologically-acceptable, nonresorbable filling material. Obturation as close as possible to the cementodentinal junction should be accomplished with gutta percha or other filling material acceptable as described in the Guide to Clinical Endodontics.

• Indications: Pulpectomy or conventional root canal treatment is indicated for a restorable permanent tooth with irreversible pulpitis or a necrotic pulp in which the root is apexified. For root canal-treated teeth with unresolved periradicular lesions, root canals that are not accessible from the conventional coronal approach, or calcification of the root canal space, endodontic treatment of a more specialized nature may be indicated.

• Objectives: There should be evidence of a successful filling without gross overextension or underfilling in the presence of a patent canal. There should be no adverse post-treatment signs or symptoms such as prolonged sensitivity, pain, or swelling, and there should be evidence of resolution of pretreatment pathology with no further breakdown of periradicular supporting tissues clinically or radiographically. 

        

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Apexification (root end closure)

Apexification is a method of inducing root end closure of an incompletely formed nonvital permanent tooth by removing the coronal and nonvital radicular tissue just short of the root end and placing a biocompatible agent such as calcium hydroxide in the canals for 2-4 weeks to disinfect the canal space. Root end closure is accomplished with an apical barrier such as MTA.

In instances when complete closure cannot be accomplished by MTA, an absorbable collagen wound dressing (eg, Colla-Cote®) can be placed at the root end to allow MTA to be packed within the confines of the canal space. Gutta percha is used to fill the remaining canal space. If the canal walls are thin, the canal space can be filled with MTA or composite resin in-stead of gutta percha to strengthen the tooth against fracture.

• Indications: This procedure is indicated for nonvital permanent teeth with incompletely formed roots.

• Objectives: This procedure should induce root end closure (apexification) at the apices of immature roots or result in an apical barrier as confirmed by clinical and radiographic evaluation. Adverse post-treatment clinical signs or symptoms of sensitivity, pain, or swelling should not be evident. There should be no radiographic evidence of external root resorption, lateral root pathosis, root fracture, or breakdown of periradicular supporting tissues during or following therapy. The tooth should continue to erupt, and the alveolus should continue to grow in conjunction with the adjacent teeth. 

        

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