(TC06) Complications Resulting from Pulp Capping on Misdiagnosed Permanent Teeth in the Pediatric Population

Pulp testing on pediatric patients can be challenging. However, wrongful diagnosis can lead to improper treatment on these teeth that can later become more problematic and even dangerous to the patient’s well-being. Many times, caries impinging upon the pulp in the pediatric population are treated as direct pulp caps in an effort to perform less invasive treatment for these patients. These vital pulp therapies have been shown to be effective under the right circumstances, especially in non-bacterial exposures, such as trauma and complicated fractures. However, carious lesions impinging upon the pulp have also been treated with direct pulp capping. If these treatments are done when the tooth is actually symptomatic, disease can continue to progress and become severe. The purpose of this table clinic is to provide examples and case reports that show the complications of pulp capping in pediatric patients when further treatment needed to be done from the start. There are multiple examples of pulp caps performed in these patients with AIP diagnosis. Some cases in particular have led to serious lesions, fascial space infections, extraoral fistulas, etc. These complications have had numerous other effects on patients including hospital visits, complex, risky surgeries, time away from school, time away from work for the parent, etc. With this knowledge, clinicians can be more aware on the importance of properly diagnosing these teeth as well as understand the potential severe complications that can result if proper treatment is not done initially.