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Pulpal Regeneration services offered in Glen Burnie, Baltimore and Timonium, MD
When the pulp within a tooth becomes infected, root canals are a common treatment approach. Juheon Seung DDS, MS, of Sterling Endodontics in Glen Burnie, Baltimore and Timonium, MD, is proud to offer pulpal regeneration, an alternative that can save an infected tooth. If you’d like to explore this innovative approach in greater detail, call the office to set up a visit, or schedule online in just a few moments.
Pulpal Regeneration Q & A
How does dental pulp become infected?
The central chamber of each of your teeth is filled with a type of living tissue called pulp. Created from nerves, blood vessels, connective tissues, and other tissue types, your pulp can become infected just like any other tissue within your body.
Some of the ways dental pulp develops infection include:
- Dental decay that allows bacteria to enter
- Fractured tooth
- Multiple dental procedures on the same tooth
- Traumatic injury
- Teeth grinding
Your immune system responds to infection by creating inflammation. Because the space within your tooth chamber is so limited, that swelling has nowhere to expand. Pressure builds up within that small space, and the nerve fibers begin firing off pain signals that are difficult to ignore.
What is pulpal regeneration?
Pulpal regeneration is an innovative treatment that supports your body’s innate healing abilities. This approach gives your body a chance to overcome infected tooth pulp.
The alternative is called a pulpectomy, which is the process of removing all traces of pulp from the inner chamber. This is the first step in a root canal, which replaces the pulp with a special dental material before protecting the treated tooth with a custom dental crown.
Pulpal regeneration offers the chance to save all of the structures and tissues of an infected tooth. This can be important for children, teens, and young adults, as their teeth are still developing and rely on healthy dental pulp for nourishment.
How does pulpal regeneration work?
Dr. Seung begins by accessing the inner chamber of your tooth through a small opening. This allows him to carefully place a biodegradable substance called regeneration scaffolding within the infected tooth.
The scaffolding can be made from collagen, fibrin, stem cells, or a manufactured polymer. A small portion of your natural tooth pulp is mixed with the scaffolding, and once in place, the structure will provide a framework for your body to fight off the infection.
Antibiotics are also used to destroy the bacteria causing the infection. Growth factors are released to promote new pulp formation.
On the day of your procedure, you’ll receive numbing medication to eliminate all sensation in the treatment area. The procedure is done in-house, and you’ll be able to return to normal activities after your visit.
Dr. Seung will track your progress during a follow-up visit. If your body reacts positively to this treatment, the infected pulp will heal, and your tooth structure is preserved.
For more information about this and other advanced endodontic procedures, call the office today to check appointment availability. You can also schedule from home, any time of day or night.