Vital Pulp Therapy Flashcards
A treatment aimed at preserving and maintaining pulp tissue that has been compromised by trauma, caries, or restorative procedures in a healthy state
vital pulp therapy
A procedure in which a material is placed on dentin that, if removed, might expose the pulp in immature permanent teeth
indirect pulp cap
How should dentin feel if caries free vs. infected with caries?
caries free = hard
caries = soft
An opening in dentin that uncovers pulp
pulp exposure
A pulp exposure resulting from the progressive destruction of tooth structure by acids and proteolytic enzymes elaborated through microbial activity; underlying pulp is inflamed to a varying and unknown extent, due to the progression of dental caries
carious pulp exposure
An accidental exposure of the pulp by hand- or engine-driven dental instruments in the absence of dental caries; if aseptic conditions are maintained, the underlying pulp is usually not inflamed
mechanical pulp exposure
A pulp exposure due to a fracture of the tooth
traumatic pulp exposure
Treatment of an exposed vital pulp by sealing the pulpal wound with a dental material (such as CaOH or mineral trioxide aggregate) to facilitate the formation of reparative dentin and maintenance of a vital pulp
pulp cap
A dental material placed directly on a mechanical or traumatic vital pulp exposure
direct pulp cap
The removal of the coronal portion of vital pulp as a means of preserving the vitality of the remaining radicular portion
pulpotomy (pulp amputation)
The removal of a small portion of the vital coronal pulp
partial pulpotomy (shallow pulpotomy, Cvek pulpotomy)
The only cell that repairs pulp is?
fibroblast
How must pulp tissue look and how long should bleeding stop to perform a pulp cap?
BRIGHT red; 3-4 minutes
T/F: You do not have to change to a sterile bur when switching from caries removal to a partial pulpotomy.
FALSE, you absolutely need to do this (otherwise, you will be introducing pathogenic microorganisms to the pulp tissue)
