Pulpitis is inflammation of dental pulp tissue. Although there are numerous causes of pulp inflammation, the main cause is tooth decay. Patients may experience severe pain in advanced stage when an abscess (a pus-filled pocket) forms at the end of a tooth’s root.
Causes of dental pulp inflammation
- Tooth decay is leading cause of pulp inflammation. Tooth decay reach the dental pulp issues after damaging the layers of enamel and dentin
- Trauma – physical accidents may cause severe tooth injury that badly affects the dental pulp
- Repetitive trauma caused by dental treatments
- Periodontal disease
- Fracture, breakage or chip on teeth expose the dental pulp tissue to bacteria
- Teeth grinding, clenching and malocclusion cause premature wear exposing dental pulp
Symptoms of pulpitis
Patients should visit the dentist as soon as possible if they present with these pulpitis symptoms. The symptoms and their repetition vary depend on the severity of pulp inflammation
- Discomfort and hypersensitivity when eating or drinking hot, cold
- Persistent pain in jaw area
- Spontaneous pain
- Discomfort when biting or chewing
- Pain may wake you up at night
- Spreading pain to other areas such as ears and head
- Running fever, swollen lymph nodes, bitter taste in mouth, bad breath in advanced stage
