Does pulpitis require tooth extraction?

Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
Updated on September 03, 2024
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Pulpitis does not require tooth extraction but necessitates root canal treatment. Pulpitis is a symptom caused by deep dental decay and bacterial infection reaching the dental nerves, manifesting as pain when eating or nocturnal pain. The inflammation in pulpitis is confined within the pulp and does not affect the root apex area. This infection can be resolved through comprehensive root canal treatment. The treatment begins with nerve devitalization; after the nerve is killed, infected dental tissues are removed using a drill, extracting the purulent dental nerve. Subsequently, medication is applied in the root canal. After inflammation is controlled, the root canal is filled. After treatment, the tooth affected by pulpitis can be preserved without extraction.

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Written by Li Bao Hua
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How is pulpitis caused?

Pulpitis is generally caused by the progression of dental caries. Bacteria infect the hard tissues of the tooth, which is referred to as dental caries in the early stages. If the decayed parts are not removed in time for dental filling, meaning the teeth are not filled promptly, the bacteria will further infect the pulp tissue, leading to pulpitis. Pulpitis is actually the outcome of further bacterial development. However, if pulpitis is not treated in time, the inflammation can advance to the root apex, causing apical periodontitis. Therefore, pulpitis requires prompt endodontic treatment of the tooth. After controlling the inflammation, the root canal is filled. Following the filling of the root canal, the top of the tooth crown is sealed, which involves the filling of the tooth.

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Pulpitis has no time to treat.

Pulpitis needs to be treated as soon as possible. If pulpitis is not treated in time, it will worsen, and bacteria will further infect, reaching the apical area and causing apical periodontitis. Severe apical periodontitis may involve destructive resorption of the apical area and the alveolar bone, and inflammation may discharge pus through the mucous membrane or skin. Clinically, symptoms such as abscesses or space infections may occur, which is quite severe and can even cause systemic septicemia. Therefore, pulpitis needs to be treated as soon as possible. The treatment of pulpitis involves removing the infected dental nerve, medicating the root canal, and performing root canal filling, that is, a complete root canal treatment.

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Can pulpitis be treated by tooth extraction?

Pulpitis should not be treated by extraction. Pulpitis is simply a painful response caused by an infection of the pulp tissue and can be managed by preserving the tooth through root canal treatment. First, drill to remove the infected dental tissue, and when the dental nerve is exposed, apply a nerve-killing medication. After the nerve is destroyed, thoroughly remove the infected tissue, then seal the root canal, and after inflammation is controlled, fill the root canal. With treatment, it is possible to preserve teeth with pulpitis and extraction should not be performed. Removing a tooth during an active episode of pulpitis may lead to the systemic spread of inflammation.

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Can pulpitis be cured?

Pulpitis is caused by the further development of caries, which allows bacterial infection to reach the pulp tissue, causing an inflammatory reaction. Caries is just a bacterial infection of the hard tissues of the teeth. If it is stopped in time, that is, by drilling to remove the infected part and filling the tooth, it is very difficult for pulpitis to occur. If the bacteria are not removed in time with a drill, further infection can cause inflammation of the tooth nerve, resulting in symptoms of pulpitis, including obvious pain from cold, heat, acidity, and sweetness stimuli, nighttime pain, and worsening with temperature stimuli. Pulpitis requires dental treatment, including nerve devitalization, medication after nerve death, and ultimately root canal filling. This means that a complete root canal treatment is needed to cure it.

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Can pulpitis cause headaches?

Pulpitis can cause headaches. Pulpitis is caused by the progression of dental caries, and it is the natural outcome of dental caries. Bacterial infections cause the dental nerve to become purulent and necrotic, or cause an acute inflammatory response in the dental nerve, which is pulpitis. The clinical symptoms of pulpitis include pain stimulated by hot and cold, which becomes more noticeable when consuming hot or cold food, or the pain may be non-localizable, which is also a typical symptom of pulpitis. It often happens that if one tooth suffers from pulpitis, the pain may occur in teeth on the same side of both the upper and lower jaws, and it is unclear which specific tooth is causing the pain, due to the non-localizing nature of pulpitis. Additionally, sometimes the pain may radiate towards the ear causing headaches, which is why pulpitis can lead to headaches.