Abstract : 

Preserving pulp vitality lies at the heart of minimally invasive dentistry. Vital pulp therapy (VPT) is no longer an experimental or specialist-only procedure, but a predictable and practical treatment option that every general dentist should be competent to deliver. As the first point of contact for patients presenting with pulpitis, general dentists play a pivotal role in determining the fate of the pulp. Accurate diagnosis and appropriate case selection are key in deciding whether to preserve the pulp or proceed with root canal treatment. Rather than defaulting to root canal treatment, VPT through partial or complete pulpotomy, when correctly indicated, can maintain pulp vitality and significantly prolong tooth survival.
Driven by advances in biomaterials and latest clinical guidelines, the outcomes of vital pulp therapy are now highly predictable. This lecture will focus on evidence-based decision making, case selection, clinical execution including caries excavation, pulp amputation, and placement of capping materials followed by realistic prognostication of teeth treated with VPT.
 

Learning objectives :

• Apply proper case selection to identify when vital pulp therapy is a predictable alternative to root canal treatment.
• Clinical protocols of vital pulp therapy procedures.
• Evaluate treatment outcomes and prognosis of teeth post vital pulp therapy.