What are Pulpitis and its Symptoms

True, you take care that your child has a good oral hygiene routine which includes daily means brushing, flossing, and giving him a calcium-rich diet. However, despite your best efforts, sometimes children may develop dental problems. A common cause of tooth pain in your children is a condition called pulpitis. The term may not be known to many people. We will clarify your curiosity and tell you about the treatment procedure of pulpitis in this post by the Whitefield dental clinic. 

What Is Pulpitis?

Pulpitis is a condition that is characterized by toothache, due to inflammation in the pulp of the tooth. The pulp of a tooth is located in the interior of the tooth. It is a spongy and soft tissue that consists of nerves and blood vessels. Its major responsibility is to provide nutrients to the tooth. Whan the pulp gets affected by  a bacterial infection, it results in pain as it is surrounded by the hard dentin of the teeth. This happens because there is no room for the pressure to dissipate.

There are two types of pulpitis, and the treatment depends on the type that you have. While reversible pulpitis, can be healed if the irritation is removed, the pulp cannot be healed by removing the source of irritation if there is irreversible pulpitis.  Irreversible pulpitis requires proper treatment by the dentist.

Pulpitis: Causes  

There are various causes of pulpitis. However, it is commonly caused by dental caries or tooth trauma.  The major causes of reversible pulpitis are:

• Cavities  
• Fractured Enamel
• Dental Drilling procedures like  crowns or fillings
•  root scraping  during a dental cleaning procedure 

Irreversible pulpitis may be  caused due to 

• Decay  close to the pulp
• Increase or decrease in the  blood flow to the pulp ( due to trauma or orthodontic treatment
• Deep dental cavities  which are situated close the pulp 

The cause of pulpitis affects the severity of the condition. If dental caries, fractures, or cracks are the reason behind it, they may result in more severity as the tooth’s root gets affected. It may lead to severe and irreversible cases of pulpitis.

Symptoms of Pulpitis

• Continuous tooth pain, which is usually dull or throbbing
• Prolonged pain or sensitivity of teeth to heat, cold, or sugar
• Pain in the tooth when touched
• Presence of Fever
• Severe tooth pain 
• Sensitivity in the jaw around the tooth usually accompanied by pain
• Swelling of the jaw or face
• Tooth abscesses, in severe cases