Periodontitis | Tooth decay

Periodontitis

While gingivitis is an initial defensive reaction of the gums to the inflammation-causing substances from plaque, periodontitis is a pathological inflammation of the entire periodontium. It is accompanied by gum pockets and bone resorption. The gums can retract and expose parts of the tooth root. In the advanced stage of the disease, so much bone may have been lost that the teeth become loose. In any case, the dentist must initiate a periodontal therapy to professionally clean the gum pockets and specifically combat the germs.

Pulpitis

The word pulpitis is composed of the word “pulp” and the suffix “-itis”, which always indicates an inflammatory process. The pulp represents the inner life of the tooth and consists, among other things, of the dental nerve and vessels that supply the tooth with fresh blood. This means that a pulpitis is an inflammation of the dental nerve including the inner life.

The dental nerve can become inflamed if bacteria from outside reach the inside of the tooth. This can happen, for example, due to a deep-seated caries. The bacteria dissolve the hard tooth substance until they have penetrated the pulp and infect it. This leads to a defensive reaction against the invading bacteria, the blood circulation is increased and the inflamed nerve usually causes pain.

Pulp necrosis

Pulp necrosis is a dead dental nerve or the death of the nerve. If bacteria have penetrated into the tooth through e.g. caries, this leads to pulpitis, an inflammation of the dental nerve. In this stage, the affected person often experiences severe toothache.

It is not uncommon for people to report that they have suffered from this severe pain and the pain subsides after several days. This is the indication that the dental nerve has slowly died off due to the infection. The bacteria destroy the nerve and decompose the surrounding tissue in the pulp.The tooth is called “devital”, i.e. dead. Often the nerve dying off is accompanied by a darkening of the tooth.