An 8-year-old patient has an uncomplicated crown fracture (Ellis Class 3) with pulp exposure of a maxillary central incisor with an immature, open apex. The pulp is vital. What is the most appropriate treatment to preserve vitality and allow continued root development?

Ellis Class 3 fracture involves enamel, dentin, AND pulp exposure. In an 8-year-old with a VITAL pulp and an IMMATURE OPEN APEX, the goal is to PRESERVE pulp vitality to allow continued root development — this is APEXOGENESIS. Treatment: partial pulpotomy (Cvek pulpotomy) removes the superficially infected/inflamed coronal pulp while preserving the radicular vital pulp. MTA or bioceramic is placed as a pulp capping agent, followed by restoration. This allows the root to continue developing to normal length with apical closure. APEXIFICATION is indicated when the pulp is NON-VITAL: it induces a calcified apical barrier but does NOT allow further root development. Complete pulpectomy removes all vital tissue and prevents root maturation. Key rule: VITAL pulp + IMMATURE apex = APEXOGENESIS. NON-VITAL pulp + IMMATURE apex = APEXIFICATION or regenerative endodontics.