After a Pulpotomy (Baby-Tooth Nerve Treatment)
What parents should know after treatment of the inside of a baby tooth.
- Some tenderness after treatment can be normal
- Protect the mouth while it is numb
- Keep brushing the treated tooth
- Increasing pain or swelling is not expected — call us
- Keep the scheduled follow-up visits
What was done
When decay or an injury reaches close to or into the pulp — the living tissue inside a tooth — we may treat the pulp to help preserve the tooth. A crown is often placed afterward to protect a treated baby tooth, so the crown handout may apply to your child too.
After treatment
Mild tenderness around the tooth or gum can occur for a few days. The trend is what matters: your child should generally become more comfortable as the area heals, not less. While your child is numb, follow the usual precautions — no chewing, biting, or sucking on the numb lip or cheek.
A successful pulpotomy still needs monitoring — we check the tooth and the tissues around it at future visits to confirm everything stays healthy. Keep the follow-up appointments even if the tooth feels completely fine.
Call us if…
- Increasing or persistent pain
- Facial or gum swelling
- A bump or drainage on the gum near the tooth
- Fever along with worsening dental symptoms
- Pain that wakes your child repeatedly
- The tooth still hurts to bite on after the recovery period we described
- A loose or missing crown
Coastal Kids Dentistry & Orthodontics · (619) 562-5437 · coastalkidsdo.com/handouts/after-a-pulpotomy
Sources & standards
This guidance is aligned with the standards of care of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry: AAPD Oral Health Policies & Recommendations