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Pulpitis is an inflammation of the dental pulp. It is caused by bacterial infection, which is a secondary development of caries, or decay. The pulp is the internal part of the tooth and consists of nerve endings, blood vessels and connective tissue.
Pulpitis can be acute or chronic.
In acute pulpitis, pain is intense and can be continuous or intermittent. Generally, it gets worse with heat and lessens with cold. The acute form is subdivided into:
- Purulent acute pulpitis. In this condition the pulp is completely inflamed. It is very painful and worsens when lying down.
- Gangrenous acute pulpitis. In this condition the pulp begins to die. This form is less painful, but can lead to the formation of a granuloma (a hard, pale pad) or an abscess.
Chronic pulpitis is characterized by less intense pain than in the acute form of the disease. The pain can be intermittent or continuous. Chronic pulpitis can result from the acute form.
Pulpitis can affect both deciduous (baby teeth) and permanent teeth alike.
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