Pulp capping
![Sedative material placed over exposed or nearly exposed pulp 1) crown 2) root 3) restoration 4) pulp cap 5) pulp chamber](/Images/godic/202502/05/Pulp_cap4236.png")
![Pulpal dentin junction. 1) outside tooth/enamel 2) dentin tubule 3) dentin 4) odontoblastic process 5) predentin 6) odontoblast 7) capillaries 8) fibroblasts 9) nerve 10) artery/vein 11) cell-rich zone 12) cell-poor zone 13) pulp chamber](/Images/godic/202502/05/Pulpal_dentin_junction4236.png")
Pulp capping is a technique used in dental restorations to prevent the dental pulp from dying, after being exposed, or nearly exposed during a cavity preparation. When dental caries is removed from a tooth, all of the infected and some or all of the softened enamel and dentin are removed. This can lead to the pulp of the tooth either being exposed or nearly exposed which causes pulpitis (inflammation). Pulpitis, in turn, can become irreversible, leading to pain and pulp necrosis, and necessitating either root canal treatment or extraction. The ultimate goal of pulp capping or stepwise caries removal is to protect a healthy dental pulp and avoid the need for root canal therapy.