Does pulpitis make it painful to tap the tooth?

Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
Updated on August 31, 2024
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Pulpitis does not necessarily cause pain when the tooth is tapped. When we talk about pain from tapping a tooth, it mainly refers to examining pain in the apical area. If tapping the tooth causes pain, it indicates that the inflammation has gathered at the root tip, manifesting as what is clinically described as tenderness upon percussion. Pulpitis may simply be a bacterial infection of the dental nerve, localized around the nerve or confined within the roots, where the nerve is infected but the apical nerve remains intact. In such cases, tapping the tooth would not cause pain. This means that in the early stages of pulpitis, there might not be tenderness upon percussion, but spontaneous pain from the dental nerve or pain triggered by temperature changes might still occur.

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Written by Wang Peng
Dentistry
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Difference between toothache due to excessive internal heat and pulpitis

Toothache caused by "excessive internal heat" usually refers to periodontal abscess or acute exacerbation of periodontal disease, whereas pulpitis involves an irreversible inflammatory reaction within the dental pulp inside the root of the tooth, and these two conditions are very different. Toothache from "excessive internal heat" related to periodontal swelling and pain refers to inflammation of the gums around the tooth. Pulpitis, on the other hand, involves inflammation of the nerves inside the tooth; thus, their specific locations are different. Toothache caused by "excessive internal heat" typically gives a feeling of the tooth being loose, but pulpitis results in localized tooth pain, which is difficult to pinpoint and can sometimes extend to include facial and head areas, presenting as radiating pain.

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Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
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Is pulpitis the same as tooth decay?

Pulpitis is actually a pain response that occurs when tooth decay further develops inflammation reaching the dental pulp tissue. Strictly speaking, pulpitis is an inflammatory pain response of the dental pulp that occurs when tooth decay further develops bacterial infection of the dental pulp tissue. Pulpitis requires early dental treatment. For tooth decay, it is sometimes sufficient to remove the decayed infected dental tissue and directly fill it. In cases of pulpitis, where the dental nerve is already exposed, anti-inflammatory treatment is necessary. First, the infected dental pulp tissue is removed with a drill, and since the dental nerve is exposed, nerve-killing is required. After controlling the inflammation, the root canal is disinfected, medication is placed in the root canal, and then the root canal is filled, which means that a complete root canal treatment is needed.

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Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
54sec home-news-image

Does pulpitis make it painful to tap the tooth?

Pulpitis does not necessarily cause pain when the tooth is tapped. When we talk about pain from tapping a tooth, it mainly refers to examining pain in the apical area. If tapping the tooth causes pain, it indicates that the inflammation has gathered at the root tip, manifesting as what is clinically described as tenderness upon percussion. Pulpitis may simply be a bacterial infection of the dental nerve, localized around the nerve or confined within the roots, where the nerve is infected but the apical nerve remains intact. In such cases, tapping the tooth would not cause pain. This means that in the early stages of pulpitis, there might not be tenderness upon percussion, but spontaneous pain from the dental nerve or pain triggered by temperature changes might still occur.

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Written by Tian Hua
Otolaryngology
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How is pulpitis treated?

Pulpitis is an emergency in dentistry, and different types of pulpitis require different treatment methods. The first step in treating pulpitis is to administer anesthesia, and if time allows, root canal treatment should be completed in one session. Root canal treatment involves removing and cleaning the dental nerve inside the root canal in one go, then using dental cement and paste to fill the root canal, thereby inhibiting bacterial growth and reproduction. Generally, three to four root canal treatments are needed. Medication treatments include cephalosporins, erythromycin, and pain relievers to alleviate pain. Additionally, tooth extraction may be advised for severe inflammation and poor dental condition.

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Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
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Can a tooth with pulpitis be extracted?

Pulpitis cannot be treated by tooth extraction. Initially, pulpitis involves an inflammatory response in the pulp tissue. Extracting the tooth at this stage can cause the inflammation to spread throughout the body and, in severe cases, can lead to sepsis. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary to avoid tooth extraction during a pulpitis attack. However, dental treatment can be performed during a pulpitis flare-up. Firstly, the acute pain in pulpitis is caused by increased pressure within the pulp. The primary method involves performing a pulpotomy to relieve this pressure. Once the pressure is alleviated, root canal medication can be applied, followed by root canal filling to complete the root canal treatment and preserve the tooth.