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Incomplete roots, in some cases, may require a root canal treatment.

Causes for incomplete root development include an extensive childhood cavity or trauma. Technically, the procedures for immature teeth are referred to as apexification, apexogenesis, and vital pulp therapy.

Apexogenesis

Any complications that may arise following the capping of inflamed dental pulp are addressed via apexogenesis procedures. In situations where the pulp of the tooth is still vital, a vital pulp therapy (e.g. pulp capping, pulpotomy) can be carried out to promote the ongoing physiologic development of root ends.

So, in short, the objective of apexogenesis is to preserve healthy pulp tissue in order to enable furthered root development with apical closure. Most if not all of the coronal pulp is removed from the canals during such procedures.

Apexification

Root development is stunted in teeth with incomplete root formation that have experienced pulp death. This leads to challenges similar to that of apexogenesis, which can lead to a more difficult root canal procedure.

With that said, the objective of this type of procedure is to help generate a calcified barrier across the open apex. This is made possible through the stimulation of cells contained in the tooth’s periapical area, causing a development of a dentin-like material over the apex.

To learn more about treatments for immature teeth, please contact our team at Elgin Mills Endodontic Specialists.