Pulp Flashcards
What is the pulp of the tooth?
Tooth pulp is soft and consists of blood vessels, connective tissue and large nerves
What is pulpitis?
Inflammation of the pulp
What two types of pulpitis is there?
- Reversible
- Irreversible
What pain would you see in reversible compered to irreversible?
Reversible = sharp short pain that ceases after removal of stimulus
Irreversible = Intense or dull prolonged pain
When would you expect to see pain that keeps patient awake at night?
Only irreversible
What is direct pulp capping?
When an exposed pulp is covered by capping material which is commonly hard setting calcium hydroxide
What is the criteria for direct pulp capping?
- Tooth is vital
- No history of pain
- No evidence of peri radicular pathology
- No excessive bleeding
What is indirect pulp capping?
Cavity has extended to within 0.5mm of pulp and capping material is placed then restored
How to manage a pulp exposure and carry out direct pulp cap?
- Exposure dried with cotton wool
- Material placed on exposure
- Tooth restored as normal
- Advice patient to return if problems arise
What is a stepwise?
Technique used in the management of deep carious lesions to avoid pulp exposure
How to carry out a stepwise?
- Access and remove caries as normal
- Clear the ADJ/margins with caution of the base
- Dress the tooth with material that gives good coronal seal (GIC)
- Review in 12 months
- Cavity should now be stained but firm (arrested)
- Restore as normal
What is ledermix?
- Antibiotic
- Anti inflammatory
- Relives pain
What causes an acute periapical abcess?
- Bacteria has progressed into the periarticular tissues?
- Patients immune response doesn’t fight off the infection
Signs and symptoms of an acute periapical abscess
- Rapid onset
- Pain
- Pus formation
- Increased mobility
- Fever
- Swelling either EO or IO
