What Is Acute Pulpitis?

Acute pulpitis refers to acute inflammation of the pulp tissue caused mainly by bacterial infections. If dental pulp infection is not controlled in time, toxins can cause apical infections through the apical foramen. The clinical characteristics of acute pulpitis are acute onset, severe pain, and general analgesic effects are not obvious. If not treated in time, it can develop into pulp necrosis in the later stage. This disease generally requires thorough endodontic treatment to cure, and the acute phase can be analgesic by pithectomy and drugs.

Basic Information

Visiting department: Department of Oral Medicine
Common causes: Acute inflammation of dental pulp tissue caused by bacterial infection.

Common symptoms: Spontaneous paroxysmal pain, nocturnal pain, etc.
Contagious: no

Causes of acute pulpitis

1. Infection When dental hard tissues are damaged for various reasons, invasion of bacteria and toxins into the pulp cavity will cause dental pulp inflammation. Other causes include dental pulp abnormalities and dental pulp exposure caused by broken crowns after an accident. In addition, periodontal pockets of patients with severe periodontal disease go deep into the apex, and bacteria enter the medullary cavity through the apical foramen and collateral root canals, causing retrograde pulpitis.
2. Caries Caries is a bacterial disease, commonly known as worm teeth and tooth decay, which can be followed by pulpitis and periapical inflammation. If not treated in time, the disease continues to develop, caries holes are formed, and even the dental crown is completely destroyed.

Clinical manifestations of acute pulpitis

1. Spontaneous paroxysmal pain is often severe and sudden, and it is intermittent in the early stage, usually lasting for several minutes, and then intermittent for several hours. With the development of the disease, the onset period is prolonged, the interval period is shortened, and it gradually changes into persistent severe pain, which is radiated along the three nerve distribution areas, and often the location of the lesion cannot be clearly specified.
2. Nocturnal pain Pain is often severe at night, and more severe when lying down.
3. Temperature stimulus affects pain. It can stimulate or exacerbate the pain when it is stimulated by cold, heat, and acidic substances. The pain is obvious in the case of cold; when the inflammation of the purulent is exacerbated, the pain in the case of heat is increased, and the cold can relieve the pain. This is because gas is generated in the dental pulp, which expands when heated, causing the pressure in the pulp cavity to increase, causing severe pain. Conversely, cold air or cold water can alleviate pain, mainly by reducing the volume of gas and reducing the pressure, and the pain is relieved.
4. Often accompanied by caries, patients often have caries in their teeth. Touch with a probe, and the pain is obvious.

Acute pulpitis examination

1. The pain is severe, and the characteristics of the pain are as follows:
(1) paroxysmal pain;
(2) Aggravated pain at night, especially when lying down;
(3) The temperature stimulates pain;
(4) Pain cannot be located.
2. The affected tooth can be checked, there is a deep caries cavity or a tooth defect near the pulp, and sometimes there is a filling in the crown or a deep periodontal pocket.
3. Touching with a probe can cause severe pain, sometimes small penetrating holes.
4. During the temperature test, the affected tooth is in the early stage of inflammation and its reactivity is enhanced; the late stage of inflammation is dull.
5. Affected teeth in advanced inflammation may have mild vertical pain in the vertical direction.

Diagnosis of acute pulpitis

A diagnosis can be made based on typical pain symptoms, probe responses, and results of endodontic temperature tests.

Acute pulpitis treatment

1. Drug treatment In general, antibiotics and analgesics can be used for symptomatic treatment.
2. Surgical treatment In order to save the living pulp or preserve the teeth, emergency treatment can open the decompression. After rinsing with warm saline, place analgesics such as camphor, eugenol, or toothache water in the caries cavity with a small cotton ball to temporarily relieve pain, and take anti-inflammatory and analgesics at the same time. 1 to 2 days after pain relief Choose treatment according to specific conditions:
(1) Live pulpectomy.
(2) Apical induction.
(3) Root canal treatment.
(4) Affected teeth with no retention value can be extracted, reducing patient pain and preventing the lesion from continuing to spread.

Prevention of acute pulpitis

Pay attention to oral hygiene. Mouthwash is often used to help remove tartar. Mouthwash after eating. Osteoporosis can easily lead to gingivitis. You can eat more foods containing calcium to strengthen bones.