What is the recommended treatment when a child presents with carious exposure on tooth 75?

In pediatric dentistry, when a child presents with carious exposure on a primary molar, such as tooth 75 (which is a primary maxillary left molar), the treatment often focuses on preserving the tooth's vitality if possible. A pulpotomy, which involves the removal of the infected pulp tissue in the crown of the tooth while preserving the healthy pulp in the roots, is a common approach when the tooth can still maintain function and space for the developing permanent dentition.

The rationale for performing a pulpotomy on tooth 75 is to alleviate pain, maintain the function of the tooth, and potentially allow for continued root development while preventing further infection. This treatment gives the tooth the opportunity to heal and remain in place until it naturally exfoliates, allowing the permanent tooth to emerge properly.

In contrast, other options like extraction would be considered only when the tooth is beyond repair or poses a risk of infection spreading. However, the choice of waiting indefinitely, as suggested in the answer, is not a typical recommendation since some follow-up is generally necessary to monitor the tooth's condition after treatment.

The option of placing a fixed space retainer after extraction may not be needed if the primary tooth can be preserved with effective treatment. Therefore, the