Therapy
In general, pulpitis must always be treated by a dentist. If left untreated, it would lead to pulp necrosis and thus to the death of the tooth. Over-the-counter painkillers can be taken for initial pain relief.
These include ibuprofen. Ibuprofen has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.As a rule, the therapy is a root canal treatment. During this treatment, the canals of the tooth root are prepared with files and freed from all bacteria.
The canals are then filled with a material similar to rubber (gutta-percha). If the cause of the pulpitis is a deep-seated caries, the first step of treatment is the removal of the caries. Depending on the degree to which the inflammation has spread, it may also be necessary to perform a root canal resection.
Diagnosis of Pulpitis
In the diagnosis of pulpitis, certain tests are performed to distinguish between reversible and irreversible pulpitis. In general, both types of pulpitis often cause severe spontaneous pain. These can be caused by cold or warm stimuli or by tapping.
A distinction is made between the stage of reversible pulpitis, in which hyperemia is still present, irreversible pulpitis, in which the inflammation has already progressed, and the stage of pulp necrosis, in which the dental nerve has already died. Various tests are performed for diagnosis. In reversible pulpitis, the reaction to a cold stimulus is greatly increased, to a warm stimulus normal, and when tapping the tooth (percussion) the patient feels no pain.
In contrast, in the presence of an irreversible pulpitis, the pain sensation to a warm stimulus is greatly increased and the percussion is positive. This means that the patient feels pain when tapping on the tooth. Furthermore, one can distinguish between acute, i.e. painful, and chronic, in many cases painless, pulpitis.
Duration of healing
The duration of a pulpitis generally depends on the cause of its development. If the pulpitis is caused by a deep-seated caries, the latter will most likely have developed for several years. Pulpitis can therefore last only a few weeks or already exist for several months. The duration of a pulpitis therefore depends on the individual sensation of pain and, as a result, on the chosen time of treatment. It is therefore essential to follow up the complaints and symptoms in order to minimize the duration of the pulpitis and improve the prognosis of the tooth.
