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The pulp, the central soft tissue of the tooth which encases the nerve, becomes infected by tooth decay that has eaten through the enamel and the dentin so that the microorganisms of the saliva invade it. Pulpitis can also be caused by a fracture of the tooth that exposes the pulp or by overheating the tooth, especially from the new high speed drills, or by trauma (an injury of violence to the tooth) or even by bruxism (grinding the tooth during sleep so that the pulp becomes irritated or inflamed).

There are two types of pulpitis: reversible and irreversible. In reversible pulpitis the nerve and the pulp can yet be saved and brought back to sound condition. Produced by bad contact with the opposing tooth or by a new filling that is irritatingly close to the pulp or by a deep unfilled cavity, reversible pulpitis may degenerate into irreversible pulpitis. When the pulp is abscessed and dying and cannot be resurrected, the pulpitis is irreversible. A painful response is elicited when the tooth is tapped with an instrument or a finger.

The Danger: If not treated the tooth will become abscessed and removal might be necessary.

Symptoms: The tooth becomes sensitive to cold, the pain lasting a few minutes and then disappearing. In advanced stages, pain will appear without any cause and last for a much longer time, occurring more frequently when the patient is in a horizontal position. There may be swelling of the face.

The tooth will now be sensitive to hot substances as well. The toothache is sharp, stabbing, or throbbing; the pain is difficult to pinpoint, often manifesting itself in a different place, sometimes even in the opposing jaw.

Treatment: In reversible pulpitis the dentist will apply a suitable germicide and seal off the exposed pulp, thus preventing further invasion from salivary bacteria. In irreversible pulpitis, he will begin root canal work or send the patient to an endodontist. The pulp will be removed and the canals sterilized and filled.

Prevention: Care should be taken that a cavity does not develop too far without treatment. On some occasions an overenthusiastic dentist might drill too near the pulp, thus destroying it.

Outlook: Removal of the pulp in root canal work does not mean that the tooth is dead; it is still attached to the bone, very much alive, and can do a useful job for a long time, providing that the root canal treatment is well done.

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Check others dental cares article:

• Dental Caries
• Dental Caries 2

As we all know, toothaches and any type of oral injury can be extremely painful and should be seen by a dentist immediately.  Dental emergencies should be seen immediately by a dentist, day or night. These emergencies include broken teeth, teeth that have been knocked out, or teeth that have been forced out of the socket.  With some emergencies, the cheeks, lips, or gums will have cuts or abrasions on them from where the teeth come out of the socket.

If you’ve had a tooth recently knocked out, the first thing you should do is look for that tooth.  When you’ve found the tooth, gently scrub it to get rid of any dirt or debris.  Once you have cleaned it, you should place it back in your mouth between the cheek and gums.  Whatever you do, you should never try to put it back in the socket.  If you can make it to the dentist in time, he may be able to put the tooth back in place.

If you’ve had a tooth come out of place, you can normally reposition it with your fingers.  You shouldn’t use a lot of force, simply because it could damage the tooth.  You shouldn’t force the tooth into place, rather try and jiggle it around.  You can also use moist tissue to hold the tooth in place, until you can get to a dentist.

If you’ve got a fractured tooth, the treatment will all depend upon how bad the booth has been fractured.  No matter how light the fracture may be, it is very important that you get to a dentist as soon as you can.  Minor fractures aren’t that bad, as they can normally be smoothed out using sandpaper.  Sometimes, the tooth can also be restored with a composite.  Either way, you’ll need to make sure that you use extreme caution with the tooth for the next few days.

The more moderate fractures, normally include damage to the dentin, pulp, and even the enamel.  These fractures can be nothing to worry about at times, yet painful with other cases.  Providing the pulp hasn’t been damaged, your dentist will be able to restore the full shape and function to the fractured tooth.  In cases where pulp damage has occurred, the dentist may need to do a root canal or other type of serious surgery to repair the tooth.

Whenever you encounter a dental emergency, you shouldn’t hesitate to contact a dentist immediately.  Your dentist will be able to assist you, fix the problem, and stop the pain.  Dental emergencies can happen at any time, so you should always the emergency number of a dentist who will be there at a moments notice.  Tooth pain can be very excruciating – and you’ll obviously want to get the problem fixed immediately.