Question

A 7 year old patient presents with a crown fracture

of a permanent maxillary central incisor that
occurred 3 days ago. The incisal half of the crown is
missing, resulting in a 2mm exposure of vital pulp.
What is the most appropriate initial management for
this tooth?
A. Apexification.
B. Pulpotomy.
C. Pulp capping.
D. Pulpectomy.

Answer 1

For a 7-year-old patient with a crown fracture and 2mm vital pulp exposure, the initial treatment is a pulpotomy. This process involves removing the damaged pulp in the crown part of the tooth, which preserves the remaining healthy pulp.

Step-by-step explanation:

A 7-year-old patient presents with a crown fracture of a permanent maxillary central incisor that occurred 3 days ago. The incisal half of the crown is missing, resulting in a 2mm exposure of vital pulp. The most appropriate initial management for this tooth is a pulpotomy. A pulpotomy entails removing the affected pulp tissue within the crown portion of the tooth, while a pulp capping is done when there is a very small exposure and the tooth is less symptomatic. Apexification is geared toward non-vital immature teeth to help close the apex, and a pulpectomy involves the removal of all pulp tissue from the crown and roots, which may not be necessary if the pulp is still vital.