Pulpitis

Pulpitis is the inflammation of the dental pulp, the soft tissue in the centre of a tooth that contains nerves and blood vessels. It most often results from deep tooth decay, dental trauma, repeated dental procedures on the same tooth, or a cracked tooth, and symptoms can include sharp or throbbing toothache, heightened sensitivity to hot or cold, and pain that may worsen when lying down or when pressure is applied to the tooth.

Clinicians distinguish between reversible pulpitis, where the pulp can recover after removing the cause, and irreversible pulpitis, where the damage is permanent and the pulp cannot heal. Diagnosis is based on symptoms, clinical tests and X-rays, and treatment ranges from removing decay and placing a filling or crown for reversible cases to root canal treatment or extraction for irreversible cases; pain relief and infection control are also important parts of management.