Can pulpitis be cured?

Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
Updated on September 27, 2024
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Pulpitis is a condition that arises from the further progression of dental caries, which is a defect in the hard tissues of a tooth caused by bacterial infection. If the caries is not treated in time to stop its further progression, bacteria will further infect and cause inflammation of the dental nerve, also known as the pulp tissue. The innermost part of a tooth contains the dental nerve, surrounded by hard dental bone and dentin. Therefore, once the dental nerve becomes inflamed, the pain can be very severe. However, pulpitis can improve after root canal treatment, meaning it is curable, but it requires root canal treatment of the tooth. If not treated promptly, it will not heal on its own. If pulpitis is not treated in time, it can further progress to form periapical abscess, and in severe cases, it can cause facial swelling.

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Written by Fang Xiao
Dentistry
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Does pulpitis not require treatment?

Pulpitis must be treated promptly. Pulpitis is when the dental pulp inside the tooth cavity, where the nerves are located, gets infected or damaged. Early symptoms often include severe pain such as spontaneous pain, intermittent pain, pain due to temperature stimuli, and nocturnal pain. If the inflammation and lesions are not removed, the pulpitis can spread to the root apex with the necrotic tissue, causing destruction of the root apex tissues and leading to periapical periodontitis. If periapical periodontitis is left untreated, it can lead to cysts at the root apex, causing chronic periapical periodontitis. Periapical periodontitis may also spread to the bone marrow or adjacent interstitial tissues, leading to interstitial infections or osteomyelitis, which are very serious conditions. Therefore, pulpitis must be treated promptly. Since the pulp chamber is a closed tissue, infections typically require root canal treatment for a complete cure.

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Written by Fang Xiao
Dentistry
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Pulpitis is sensitive to cold or heat?

Pulpitis is sensitive to both cold and heat, and this sensitivity is a symptom of the condition. The dental pulp is protected by enamel and dentin, and generally does not exhibit sensitivity. However, if there are deep cavities, split wedge-shaped defects, severe wear, or fractures that compromise the outer protection, it can lead to inflammation of the dental nerve and sensitivity to temperature changes. In such cases, nerve removal treatment, also known as root canal treatment, is required. Root canal treatment involves the removal of the pulp and necrotic material from the root canal, disinfecting it, and tightly filling the root canal to eliminate any infection that could adversely affect the surrounding periapical tissue and prevent re-infection. Root canal treatment requires three to four follow-up visits and can be costly. Therefore, it is important to detect and treat cavities early.

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Written by Li Bao Hua
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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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Does pulpitis require tooth extraction?

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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Will pulpitis cause the gums to swell?

Pulpitis rarely causes gum swelling; it is generally inflammation at the apex of the tooth root that leads to it, or gingivitis causing swollen gums. Pulpitis is a bacterial infection of the tooth's hard tissues. If not treated promptly and the progression of the decay is not halted in time, it can infect the tooth nerve and cause pulpitis. At this stage, the bacterial infection is confined to the pulp tissue, which is the interior of the tooth. The gums are the supporting tissues of the teeth. If pulpitis is not treated promptly and the inflammation further progresses to the root apex area, and if the inflammation in the root apex area cannot be effectively drained, it will lead to pus discharge outward to the mucosa or skin, forming swollen gums, or a gum abscess, or swelling around the teeth due to food residue remaining after eating. Therefore, pulpitis generally does not cause swollen gums.