Final answer:
The best treatment for a 7-year-old with a vital, fractured maxillary incisor at the gingiva level is most likely a pulpotomy. This preserves the tooth's root, allowing for potential continued growth and healing.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question is asking what the treatment of choice would be for a 7-year-old boy who fractured his maxillary right central incisor at the level of the gingiva five hours prior, with the exposed pulp still being vital. Considering the age of the patient and the vitality of the pulp, the best course of treatment would likely be a pulpotomy. A pulpotomy involves removing the affected pulp within the crown portion of the tooth without touching the root, which is still developing in a child. This allows for the potential for the root to continue growing and for the pulp to heal, especially since the pulp is still vital. A pulpotomy contrasts with a pulpectomy, where all the pulp is removed from both the crown and the root, or a complete root canal treatment, which is generally performed on a matured tooth. The other options, such as a pulp cap, may not be sufficient due to the level of damage indicated, and extraction should be considered a last resort, especially for a young child's developing dentition.