When deep tooth decay or trauma causes severe infection in a baby tooth's nerve (pulp), a pulpectomy offers the best chance to save the tooth and eliminate pain. This procedure—often called a "baby root canal"—involves removing all the infected nerve tissue from the tooth's crown and roots, then filling and sealing it to prevent further infection. At Dental Sedation Ottawa, we perform gentle, thorough pulpectomy procedures using comprehensive sedation options—from mild relaxation to complete sleep—ensuring your child receives this important treatment in complete comfort without fear or pain.
A pulpectomy is the complete removal of all pulp tissue (nerves and blood vessels) from both the crown (visible part) and roots of a baby tooth. Think of it as the pediatric equivalent of an adult root canal, though the procedure is actually simpler and faster because baby tooth roots are shorter and the filling material is designed to dissolve as the tooth naturally sheds.
The pulp is the soft tissue inside the tooth containing nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. When deep decay or trauma allows bacteria to invade this pulp, infection develops. The pulp becomes inflamed, dies, and eventually forms an abscess (pus-filled infection) at the root tips. This infection causes severe pain, swelling, and can damage the permanent tooth developing underneath.
Pulpectomy eliminates the infection by removing all the diseased pulp tissue, thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting the inside of the tooth, filling the empty root canals with a special medicinal paste that helps fight any remaining bacteria, and sealing the tooth to prevent new bacteria from entering.
After pulpectomy, the tooth no longer has living tissue inside it—it's essentially an empty, clean shell. But importantly, the tooth remains firmly attached to the jaw bone through the periodontal ligament, so it continues functioning normally for chewing and maintains space for the permanent tooth underneath.
These terms sound similar but describe different procedures:
Questions about your child's tooth infection? We're here to help.
We ensure pulpectomy is completely comfortable through comprehensive sedation options:
Your child may need pulpectomy if they experience any of these symptoms:
Sometimes baby teeth are too damaged or infected to save, even with pulpectomy. Your dentist evaluates whether pulpectomy is worthwhile based on: Less than 2-3mm of tooth structure remaining above gums (not enough to hold a crown); Severe bone loss around the roots visible on X-rays; Root resorption (roots dissolving) already advanced; Tooth within 12 months of naturally falling out anyway; Severe root fractures or cracks extending below the gum line.
In these cases, extraction followed by a space maintainer is usually the better option. Your dentist thoroughly evaluates each situation before recommending pulpectomy, considering the likelihood of success and whether the tooth is worth saving at all.
Before the procedure, we examine your child's tooth clinically and take X-rays to assess infection extent, root canal shape and length, and whether the tooth is salvageable. We discuss sedation options based on your child's anxiety level and treatment needs.
On treatment day, we begin by administering your chosen sedation option. Once your child is comfortable and relaxed (or peacefully asleep with general anesthesia), we ensure complete numbness of the treatment area.
We place a rubber dam (thin rubber sheet) over the tooth to isolate it from saliva and keep it dry during treatment. The dentist opens the top of the tooth and removes all infected pulp tissue from the crown portion. Using specialized tiny files, we carefully clean out each root canal, removing all pulp tissue and infected material. Baby molars typically have 3-4 root canals; front teeth have 1-2 canals.
Throughout cleaning, we irrigate the canals repeatedly with antibacterial solutions to disinfect and flush out debris. Once all canals are thoroughly cleaned and shaped, we dry them and fill them with a special medicinal paste containing antibacterial medication designed to gradually dissolve as the baby tooth root naturally resorbs.
We seal the top of the tooth with filling material to prevent bacteria from re-entering, then place a crown (usually stainless steel for back teeth or esthetic crown for front teeth) over the tooth to protect it and restore full function.
Time Required: Pulpectomy on a single baby tooth takes 30-50 minutes depending on the number of root canals and their complexity. Multiple pulpectomies add approximately 25-35 minutes per additional tooth.
What to expect in the days and weeks following treatment:
Pulpectomy success rates in baby teeth range 70-90% depending on infection severity, canal cleaning thoroughness, and crown quality.
Pulpectomy: $250-400 per tooth, depending on complexity
Stainless Steel Crown: $250-400 (protective crown after treatment)
Esthetic Crown: $300-450 (tooth-colored option for front teeth)
Baby molars with 3-4 canals cost more than front teeth with 1-2 canals. Total cost for pulpectomy plus crown ranges $500-850 per tooth for most cases. When multiple teeth require treatment under sedation, sedation fees are additional.
When you consider the alternatives—extracting infected baby teeth requiring space maintainers ($300-500 additional), loss of chewing function, speech problems from missing back teeth, and potential orthodontic complications—pulpectomy represents sound investment when successful outcomes are likely.
Most dental insurance plans cover pulpectomy at 50-80% when medically necessary. We provide comprehensive documentation supporting insurance claims and offer direct billing to major insurers. We also accept the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP).
Our patients consistently rate us 5 stars for gentle, anxiety-free care. Read verified patient experiences on Google.
View All Reviews on GoogleWe welcome patients from throughout Ottawa including Kanata, Nepean, Orléans, Stittsville, Manotick, and Greely, as well as Eastern Ontario communities (Rockland, Embrun, Russell, Winchester, Kemptville, Carleton Place, Arnprior, Renfrew, Pembroke, Cornwall, Hawkesbury) and West Quebec (Gatineau, Aylmer, Hull, Chelsea, Wakefield, Buckingham).
