Accompanying symptoms

The accompanying symptoms of infected pulp necrosis are usually pain. The pain is caused by pressure, as the bacteria that decompose the vessels produce gases that cannot escape. More and more gases are produced the longer the bacteria metabolise the vessels and the pressure rises.

The tooth can cause biting problems and pain if it is only touched. Chewing on the affected side is also unbearable for the affected person. Furthermore, if the necrosis persists for a longer period of time, the tissue below the root tip can swell in an inflammatory way, which leads to pain when touching.

The affected area feels warmed and appears flushed due to the increased blood circulation. An unpleasant taste sensation is also possible if the putrefactive gases and secretions can enter the oral cavity through an enlarged gum pocket. Pus and pus can also come directly into the oral cavity, leading to bad breath, which can severely affect the affected person.

Pain in the case of pulp necrosis is primarily caused in the infected form by the development of gas. This results in a strong pressure pain, and throbbing is also possible. The patient experiences chewing and biting pains.

Inflammatory pain around the affected root tip is also possible due to swelling and redness. In infected pulp necrosis caused by bacteria, the bacteria try to spread beyond the root tip and cause apical periodontitis there. The inflammation around the root tip occurs because the bone is broken down and the inflammatory cells infect and inflame the tissue. As a result, the tissue can swell and a preliminary contact through the signs of inflammation can occur, causing unpleasant symptoms.

Treatment of pulp necrosis

The treatment of pulp necrosis consists of a root canal treatment. In a first step, a hole is drilled into the tooth, which reaches up to the pulp. This creates direct access to the pulp, through which pressure can primarily escape.

In the case of particularly gangrenous teeth, this access also allows pus to drain away. The dentist now tries to remove the inflamed and dead nerve tissue completely from the canal system with special files. Molar teeth have a canal system consisting of several canals from which all tissue has to be removed in order to make complaints disappear.

In the next step the canal system is rinsed and disinfected to kill and remove the bacteria. In the case of gangrenous teeth, a medicinal inlay is placed in the system, which helps to eliminate the bacteria and heal the tissue under the root tip. The next step is the preparation of the root canals.

The canals are widened by ever larger needles and existing bends are straightened so that the canal system can be filled completely and without gaps in the next step. The last step is the root canal filling, which is only performed when the tooth is completely free of complaints. During this process, the canal system is filled with thermoplastic root filling material, for example, in order to hermetically seal the disinfected system from the surrounding tissue again. If the affected tooth remains free of complaints after the root filling, it can be prosthetically restored with a crown.