DEFINITION OF PULPITIS

 It is the inflammation of pulp resulting due to :-

1) Trauma
2) Thermal shock during cavity preparation
3) Excessive dehydration of cavity
4) Placing of fresh amalgam in contact with pulp
5) Chemical stimulus from any food-stuff
TYPES OF PULPITIS
1. Reversible pulpitis
a) Symptomatic(acute)
b) Asymptomatic(chronic)
2. Irreversible pulpitis
a) Acute
 Abnormally responsive to cold
 Abnormally responsive to heat
b) Chronic
 Asymptomatic with pulp exposure
 Hyperplastic pulpitis
 Internal resorption
REVERSIBLE PULPITIS
 It is a mild to
moderate condition
of the pulp caused
by noxious stimuli in
which the pulp is
capable of returning
to uninflamed state
following removal of
stimuli.
HISTOPATHOLOGY
 It may range from hyperemia to mild to moderate
inflammatory changes limited to area of involved
dentinal tubules such as dental caries.
 Microscopically,one can see reparative
dentin,disruption of odontoblast layer,dilated blood
vessels,extravasation of edema fluid,presence of
immunologically competent chronic inflammatory
cells.
SYMPTOMS
 Symptomatic reversible pulpitis is characterized by
sharp pain lasting for a moment.
 It is more often brought on by cold than hot food or
beverages and by cold air.
 Clinically,the difference between reversible &
irreversible pulpitis is quantitative,the pain of
irreversible pulpitis is more severe & lasts longer.
TREATMENT
 The best treatment for reversible pulpitis is
prevention.
 Periodic care to prevent the development of
caries,early insertion of a filling if a cavity has
developed.
 Desensitization of necks of teeth where gingival
recession is marked.
 Use of cavity varnish or cement base before insertion
of filling & care in cavity preparation & polishing are
recommended to prevent pulpitis.
IRREVESIBLE PULPITIS
 It is persistent inflammatory
condition of pulp either
symptomatic or asymptomatic
caused by a noxious stimulus.
 The pain persists for several
minutes to hours,lingering
after removal of thermal
stimulus.
 Most common cause is bacterial
involvement of pulp through
caries.
 Any clinical,chemical,thermal
factor can also cause irreversible
pulpitis.
HISTOPATHOLOGY
 Irreversible pulpitis may be caused by a long-
standing noxious stimulus such as caries.
 As it penetrates the dentin,caries cause a chronic
inflammatory response.
 If the caries is not removed,the inflammatory changes
in pulp will increase in severity as the caries
approaches the pulp.
 The post-capillary venules become congested & affect
the circulation within the pulp,causing necrosis.
 These necrotic areas attract polymorphonuclear
leukocytes by chemotaxis & start an acute
inflammatory reaction.
 The lysosomal enzymes lyse some of pulp stroma &
form a purulent exudate.
 The inflammatory reaction produces micro-abscesses.
 If the carious process continues to advance &
penetrates the pulp,an area of ulceration is formed
which drains the carious exposure into oral cavity &
reduces the intra-pulpal pressure & therefore,the pain.
SYMPTOMS
 In early stages,a paroxysm of pain is caused by sudden
temperature changes particularly cold.
 The pain often continues when cause has been
removed.
 The patient may describe the pain as sharp,piercing or
shooting & it is generally severe.
 It may be intermittent or continuous depending on the
degree of involvement of pulp.
 The patient may also have pain referred to adjacent
teeth,sinuses or to the temple when upper posterior
teeth are involved.
 In later stages,the pain is more severe & is generally
described as boring,gnawing or throbbing.
 The pain need not to be macroscopically exposed but a
slight exposure is generally present.
 Pain is increased by heat & is sometimes relieved by
cold.
 After exposure & drainage of pulp,pain may be slight
manifesting itself as a dull consciousness or it may be
entirely absent.
TREATMENT
 Treatment consists of complete removal of pulp or
pulpectomy.
 In posterior teeth,in which time is a factor,the removal
of coronal pulp or pulpectomy should be performed in
emergency procedure.
 Surgical removal should be considered if tooth is not
restorable.
CHRONIC HYPERPLASTIC PULPITIS
 It is a productive pulpal
inflammation due to
extensive carious exposure
of a young pulp.It is also
known as “pulp polyp”.
 This disorder is
characterized by
development of
granulation tissue,covered
at times with epithelium &
resulting from long-
standing,low-grade
irritation.
HISTOPATHOLOGY
 The surface of pulp polyp is usually covered by stratified
squamous epithelium.
 The pulp tissue is chronically inflamed
 The pulp polyps of deciduous teeth are more likely to be
covered with stratified squamous epithelium than those of
permanent teeth.
 The epithelium may be derived from gingiva or from freshly
desquamated epithelial cells of mucosa or tongue.
 The tissue in pulp chamber is often transformed into
granulation tissue,which projects from pulp into carious
lesion.
CAUSE & SYMPTOMS
 The cause of pulp polyp is
slow,progressive carious exposure
of the pulp.
 For the development of
hyperplastic pulpitis,a large open
cavity;a young,resistant pulp;&
a chronic low grade stimulus is
necessary. Mechanical irritation
from chewing & bacterial
infection often provide the
stimulus.
 Pulp polyp is symptomless
except during mastication,when
pressure of food bolus may cause
discomfort.
TREATMENT
 The treatment should be directed towards elimination
of polypoid tissue followed by extirpation of
pulp,provided the tooth can be restored.
 When the hyperplastic pulp mass has been removed
with periodontal curette or spoon excavator,the
bleeding can be controlled with pressure
 The pulp tissue of chamber is completely removed & a
temporary dressing is sealed in contact with radicular
pulp tissue.
INTERNAL RESORPTION
 It is an idiopathic slow
or fast progressive
resorptive process
occuring in the dentin of
pulp chamber or root
canals of teeth.
 The cause of internal
resorption is not
known,but such patients
have a history of trauma.
HISTOPATHOLOGY
 The internal resorption is the result of osteoclast
activity.
 The resorptive process is characterized by
lacunae,which may be filled with osteoid tissue.The
osteoid tissue may be regarded as an attempt at repair.
 Multi-nucleated giant cells or dentinoclasts are
present.
 The pulp is chronically inflamed.
 Metaplasia of the pulp i.e. transformation to another
type of tissue such as bone or cementum.
SYMPTOMS
 In internal resorption,the
root of the tooth is
asymptomatic .
 In crown,it is manifested as
a reddish area called “pink
spot”.
 The affected tooth is also
known as “Pink tooth of
mummery”
 The reddish area
represents the granulation
tissue showing through the
resorbed area of crown.
TREATMENT
 Extirpation of the pulp stops
the internal resorptive process.
 In many patients,the condition
progresses unobserved
because it is painless,until the
root is perforated.
 In such case,mineral trioxide
aggregate(MTA) is
recommended to repair the
defect.When the repair has
been completed,the canal with
its defect is obturated with
plasticized gutta-percha.
THANK
YOU

Presented by :-
Amanjot Singh
Roll No. - 5