Final answer:
The best treatment for a small carious exposure of the pulp varies depending on the extent of damage. A pulp capping sedative dressing is used for limited damage with the goal of preserving tooth vitality, while root canal therapy is necessary for irreversibly damaged or infected pulp.
Step-by-step explanation:
The best long-term prognosis for treatment when a small, carious exposure of the pulp is found during an operative procedure depends on the extent of the damage to the pulp and the goals of treatment. If the infection is limited and the goal is to preserve the tooth's vitality, C. Immediately placing a pulp capping sedative dressing is often considered. However, if the pulp is irreversibly damaged or infected, A. Performing root canal therapy is necessary to remove the infected tissues and prevent the spread of infection, which could lead to painful abscesses. A pulpotomy procedure might be considered as an intermediate step if the infection is confined to the coronal portion of the pulp. Placing a corticosteroid-antibiotic dressing could alleviate pain and manage infection temporarily but likely would not address the underlying cause of the pulp exposure.