SAVING TEETH FROM DECAY

Indirect Pulp Therapy

Indirect pulp therapy, also known as indirect pulp capping, is a procedure performed on a tooth where only the outer dentin layers are affected by an infection, while the inner pulp of the teeth is unaffected and healthy.

It is a minimally invasive procedure that is meant to protect and restore a tooth, by reducing risk of exposure to the tooth's pulp.

It is mainly performed on children, and is suitable for primary teeth and young permanent teeth that are developing incorrectly.

What is Indirect Pulp Therapy?

What is Indirect Pulp Therapy?

In indirect pulp therapy, the pulp tissue is left untouched and covered with a biocompatible material, to prevent microleakage.

It is a minimally invasive alternative to more invasive techniques like pulpotomy. Unlike other methods, there is no reopening of the cavity for the treatment of deep caries lesions.

Long term retention of permanent molars requires a root with a favourable crown to root ratio and dentinal walls that are thick enough to function well.

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Why Would You Require Indirect Pulp Therapy?

Deep cavities requiring this therapy may have resulted from a variety of reasons, including:

Tooth decay;
Chipped or broken teeth;
Moderate to severe tooth wear;
Tooth abnormalities.

Benefits of Indirect Pulp Therapy

See all

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Less Invasive Treatment

It is a conservative and less invasive type of treatment, helping to preserve the vitality of your pulp.

A Preventive Measure

Preventive measure for diseases of the pulp that can otherwise lead to a toothache, dental infection or gum disease.

High Success Rates

Method with high success rates compared to other similar methods.

What Does the Procedure Involve?

Stage 1: Pre-Treatment

To remove infected dentin, a bactericidal liner needs to be applied, such as calcium hydroxide, over the remaining carious dentin.
This is to induce tertiary dentin (or reparative dentin) formation, protect the dental pulp tissue and stimulate healing and repair.
This aids in the improvement of the restorative material and tooth structure interfacial seal and for allowing adequate control of microleakage.

Stage 2: Indirect Pulp Therapy Procedure

Indirect pulp therapy is a supplementary procedure in addition to placing a dental filling (composite resins). Just before your filling is placed, a layer of medication will be used to line the base of the cavity overlying your pulp.
The medication has an anti-bacterial and soothing effect to help protect and heal your pulp, thereby preserving its health and vitality. The tooth is then restored with a material that seals the tooth from microleakage.

What Are the Risks Involved?

Indirect pulp therapy is a supplementary treatment procedure to a filling that is commonly performed and is generally considered safe.

As much as it aims to heal and soothe your pulp, a slight chance remains that your pulp condition may deteriorate in the future which may require a root canal treatment or extraction to address. However, in deep cavities with a healthy pulp, it is often worth attempting an indirect pulp therapy followed by a simple filling first as this is less invasive.

The success of the treatment depends on the complete removal of decay from the walls of the cavity.
f you are allergic to any known material (e.g. plasters), please inform our dentists beforehand so that we can plan the material to use to avoid any allergic reactions.

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Why Choose Nuffield Dental?

Nuffield Dental is a one-stop, multi-disciplinary dental care centre. At Nuffield, we put you first. We believe in providing personalised service for each patient.

Nuffield Dental is a one-stop, multi-disciplinary dental care centre. Here at Nuffield Dental, we pride ourselves of our personalised oral care for each and every one of our patients. We need to make sure you get all the help you need to make your dental procedures more comfortable, accessible and seamless.

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Our dentists have specialised in pulp treatment and oral surgery for more than 20 years. We have accredited dental specialists who are skilled in the area of dental implant surgery.

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