The American Association of Endodontists (AAE), which represents dental specialists known as endodontists who treat tooth pain and save patients’ natural teeth, released a new position statement on vital pulp therapy.
Vital pulp therapy preserves the vitality and function of the dental pulp after injury resulting from trauma, caries, or restorative procedures. These procedures have already been widely accepted as an option for treating injured pulps in adult teeth that do not yet have fully-formed roots.
This position statement supports vital pulp therapy as a treatment option that providers may offer their patients for adult teeth with injured pulps and fully-formed roots. Previously only root canal therapy or extraction may have been considered for these teeth. Notably, the statement supports complete caries removal, with the feasibility of vital pulp therapy determined by direct inspection of the exposed dental pulp. The statement also addresses (among other considerations) the selection of biomaterials and permanent restoration.
In developing its position statement, a dedicated Special Committee of the AAE based their recommendations on many recent studies demonstrating a high rate of success for these procedures in properly selected cases.
While the paper is presented from the perspective of the specialty of endodontics, its recommendations may be useful to any practitioner in assessing his or her ability to provide vital pulp therapy for the benefit of patients.
The AAE Position Statement on Vital Pulp Therapy (2021) can be accessed online and is part of the Association’s ongoing efforts to facilitate the highest standard of patient care.
About the American Association of Endodontists
The American Association of Endodontists, headquartered in Chicago, represents more than 8,000 members worldwide. Endodontics is one of 12 dental specialties formally recognized by the American Dental Association. The AAE, founded in 1943, is dedicated to excellence in the art and science of endodontics and to the highest standard of patient care. The Association inspires its members to pursue professional advancement and personal fulfillment through education, research, advocacy, leadership, communication and service. For more information about the AAE, visit the Association’s website at aae.org.
