Vital Pulp Therapy in Cats: 47 Cases (2009-2025)

Vital pulp therapy (VPT) is a dental procedure aimed at preserving tooth vitality after pulp exposure by removing part of the exposed coronal pulp and placing a protective pulp dressing material directly over the remaining pulp, followed by a tightly sealed restoration to prevent bacterial leakage at the restoration-dentin interface. Indications include recent complicated crown fracture (CCF) or traumatic malocclusion in mature, as well as immature, permanent teeth. This retrospective study evaluated the outcome of 47 teeth in 36 cats treated with VPT at a referral clinic between 2009 and 2025, using either dental radiography, cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) or both modalities. The overall success rate was 81%, supporting VPT as a viable alternative to extraction or root canal therapy in feline teeth with recent CCF or traumatic malocclusion. Although not statistically significant, teeth with CCF and associated contaminated pulps exhibited higher failure rates than teeth in traumatic malocclusion, which were cases that had crown height reduction performed in a more sterile environment, and which had uncontaminated pulp at the time of VPT. Mineral trioxide aggregate was used as the pulp capping material in all cases. Limitations include the retrospective design, limited sample size, and large variation in time from VPT to follow-up. Results emphasize the clinical benefit of VPT in cats, while highlighting the importance of case selection, sufficient follow-up, and further prospective research to optimize protocols and long-term outcomes.