Pulpitis
Background
Clinical Features
- Reversible Pulpitis
- Duration of pain is short (seconds)
- Associated with noxious stimuli (usually cold or heat, can also be elicited by sweat and sour)
- Irreversible Pulpitis
- Duration of pain is long (hours) and intense
- Associated with noxious stimuli or may occur spontaneously
Differential Diagnosis
Dentoalveolar Injuries
Odontogenic Infections
- Acute alveolar osteitis (dry socket)
- Acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (trench mouth)
- Dental abscess
- Periapical abscess
- Periodontal abscess
- Ludwig's angina
- Pulpitis (dental caries)
- Pericoronitis
- Peritonsillar abscess (PTA)
- Retropharyngeal abscess
- Vincent's angina - tonsillitis and pharyngitis
Other
Evaluation
- Clinical evaluation
- X-Ray images
- Dental referral
Management
- Short term management with local anesthetics
- Antibiotics controversial for dental pain alone without evidence of infection
- Antibiotic choices: Penicillin VK or Clindamycin
- Definitive therapy with root canal or extraction (for irreversible pulpitis)
Disposition
- Discharge with dental follow-up