Australian Dental Council (ADC) Test 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The recommended treatment for an 8-year-old child with carious exposure of tooth 75 is to perform a pulpotomy on tooth 75 and wait indefinitely, as indicated in the chosen answer. A pulpotomy is a procedure that involves the removal of the inflamed pulp tissue from the crown of the tooth while preserving the vitality of the remaining pulp in the root. This treatment is particularly appropriate for primary teeth that have been exposed to caries but still have a chance of maintaining pulp health and functionality.

In children, maintaining primary teeth is crucial for several reasons, including guiding the eruption of permanent teeth and preserving space for them. A pulpotomy can help keep the tooth functional until it naturally exfoliates or until any additional interventions might be necessary. The recommendation to wait indefinitely reflects the understanding that primary molars often have a good prognosis if treated properly, allowing for potential natural dental development.

Other treatments, such as extraction, would lead to loss of tooth structure that serves crucial developmental functions. Creating space when teeth are extracted can involve more complex treatments such as space maintainers or bridges, which are not the first-line approaches for a tooth that still has potential for health if treated conservatively.