Pulpitis is inflammation of the tooth pulp due to decay and bacteria. It can be chronic or acute, reversible or irreversible. Symptoms include pain and sensitivity to hot and cold liquids or foods. Treatment includes cleaning the cavity and using antiseptics. Poor oral hygiene can cause pulpitis, and prevention is recommended.
Pulpitis occurs when the pulp material inside the tooth becomes inflamed due to decay and the presence of bacteria. The condition can be chronic or acute. Chronic pulpitis refers to a condition that tends to linger over a long period of time. Acute pulpitis refers to a condition that is usually very painful and typically short-lived. The pulp can sometimes become so badly damaged that the pulpitis is irreversible and eventually the pulp dies.
Symptoms of irreversible pulpitis are usually low-grade pain or pain and sensitivity to hot and cold liquids or foods. The pain may also continue after the stimulus has been removed. Pulpitis can also be reversible. This can occur when there is an irritant in the pulp and usually resolves once the irritant has been removed. Some of the symptoms of reversible pulpitis can include sensitivity to touch and hot and cold stimuli.
There are two types of acute pulpitis: purulent pulpitis and gangrenous pulpitis. Purulent pulpitis is a condition in which the entire internal pulp is inflamed and can often feel more painful when the person is lying down. Gangrenous pulpitis is when the pulp begins to die and is generally not as painful as purulent pulpitis. Shortly after the pulp begins to die it becomes irreversible. Chronic pulpitis can often be the result of acute pulpitis.
Some of the symptoms of acute pulpitis may include sporadic wrist-like pain and is a result of fluid buildup within the pulp. The pain can also be sharp and intense. There may be a visible opening near the tooth with pus and blood oozing out of it. The initial treatment for acute pulpitis is to remove any debris around the cavity and clean it with a cotton swab dipped in eugenol. Eugenol is a substance found in clove oil and other essential oils and is used as an antiseptic as well as for pain.
Sometimes pulpitis can occur when there is a crack in the tooth and the pulp is exposed to bacteria. Food is able to seep into the fissure and further irritate the pulp to create an acute condition of pulpitis. Dentists may recommend a root canal or even tooth extraction if the pulp exposure has been too extreme. Pulpitis can also be caused by poor oral hygiene and flossing and brushing are recommended to prevent this condition from occurring.
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