DENTAL HEALTH...IRREVERSIBLE PULPITIS

DENTAL HEALTH…IRREVERSIBLE PULPITIS

Dec 04, 2016 News

By Dr. Neromini Fagu

Last week we spoke about reversible pulpitis and what to expect if you are diagnosed with the condition. I will continue this week with irreversible pulpitis. In severe cases the pulp becomes irreparably damaged and it is unable to recover even if the stimulus has been removed. The time it takes to reach this state is not an exact science, and for some people it may be rather quickly while for others there may be more of a delay in the advancement to an irreversible situation.
Once there is severe inflammation the pulp may become swollen to the point that blood supply to the area is severely restricted or even cut off. This will cause the tooth to eventually die.
The greater the number of times that pulp is subjected to injuries, the higher the probability of irreversible pulpal damage.
Causes of Irreversible Pulpitis
Tooth Decay–Decay that extends deep into dentine may cause the pulp to become severely injured or even damaged. The process of removing the decay, or the presence of the decay itself, can be causes of pulpal inflammation.
Accidental Trauma–Accidents or blows to the mouth may cause movement of the nerve within the socket or disruption of blood supply to the tooth resulting in pulpitis.
Iatrogenic Causes – These are injuries to the tooth resulting from a dental procedure, such as a filling that is close to the pulp, crown preparations close to the pulp, or instances where the tooth was exposed to excessive heat during certain procedures.
Chronic tooth clenching and grinding – This habit can expose teeth to extreme forces causing the wear of tooth structure and exposure of the pulp.
Symptoms of Irreversible Pulpitis
The main symptom of irreversible pulpitis is pain. It may include:
· Pain to hot or cold that may or may not linger
· Spontaneous pain, especially pain that wakes you up at night
· Pain with chewing
· Pain that is generally sharp and acute, and sometimes described as shooting or piercing
· Pain arising after a relatively recent filling, on a tooth with more than one fillings, or fillings that are close to the pulp.
The pain can extend to neighbouring teeth, or it can involve the jaw and up into the ear and temple. Bending over or lying down may cause the pain to worsen.
Diagnosis of Irreversible Pulpitis
Clinical Examination–Signs of a deep cavity extending into the pulp, fracture lines, swellings, sinus tracts or secondary caries.
Radiograph–X-rays may indicate a deep cavity or caries under a filling. There may or may not be radiolucency around the root of the tooth and there may be widening of the periodontal ligament space.
Percussion–The tooth may be tender when touched or gently tapped due to increased pulpal pressure within the tooth.
Thermal Test–The application of a cold stimulus will cause pain that may linger on after the stimulus has been removed.
Treatment for Irreversible Pulpitis
Endodontic Therapy–In order to save the tooth, the main treatment for irreversible pulpitis is a root canal. In some cases antibiotics may also be prescribed to help clear up any infection.
Extraction–It may not always be possible to save a tooth diagnosed with irreversible pulpitis. Sometimes the tooth may be severely broken down and a root canal may not be a viable option. In this case, the only other treatment is extraction.
Prevention of Irreversible Pulpitis
The best way to prevent irreversible pulpitis is to prevent pulpitis from occurring in the first place. Practising good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing your teeth, and going to the dentist for regular checkups, will help to prevent most dental problems.

For more information contact OMNI DENTAL at 295 Quamina Street, Georgetown Tel: 227-0025, Parika Tel: 260-3133 or send emails to nerominifagu@hotmail.com.

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