What Do I Do If My Tooth Pulp Is Exposed?

By Author: James Franklin
Total Articles: 271
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The tooth pulp cannot be seen with the naked eye. It is found right at the center of the tooth, and is made up of tissue, nerves and blood vessels that serve as channels to deliver oxygen and vital nutrients to the tooth. There are many ways to the pulp to get damaged; traumatic injury or tooth decay can lead to painful pulp exposure and even inflammation. To remedy this, pulp therapy is needed.

Pulp therapy is known by many other names, including root canal, pulpectomy, pulpotomy and nerve treatment. Primarily, its goal is to restore, treat and save the affected tooth. Dentists perform pulp therapy on both primary and permanent teeth. Although the primary teeth eventually shed off, they are still essential for proper chewing, speech production, and as a guide for proper alignment and spacing of permanent teeth.

Signs of Tooth Pulp Exposure and Injury

Injured or inflamed pulp can be very painful. Even when the source of pain is not visible, it quickly becomes obvious that you need to see a dentist right away. Other signs to look out ...
... for include nighttime pain; constant unexplained pain; redness or swelling around the affected area; sensitivity to cool and warm food and beverages; and unexpected mobility or looseness of the affected tooth.

When Should I Undergo Pulp Therapy?

Because every situation is unique, it is essential for the dentist to first assess the patient and take into consideration their age, tooth position, and overall health. From here, the dentist can make a recommendation if the tooth will have to be extracted or if it can be saved via pulp therapy. Prematurely extracted or missing teeth can lead to some undesirable consequences, including the following:

• Length of the arch can shorten
• Opposing teeth can grow protruding or in any other desirable way
• Remaining teeth can move to fill in the gap
• Premolars can be impacted painfully
• Tongue may abnormally posture
• For primary tooth loss, permanent teeth can lack sufficient space to emerge

How is Pulp Therapy Performed?

First, the dentist will perform visual examinations and look at x-rays of the affected tooth. The location and amount of pulp damage will dictate the treatment procedure needed. There are many other treatments available, but the pulpotomy and pulpectomy treatment procedures are some of the most commonly performed.

Pulp Therapy: Pulpotomy
If the pulp root is still unaffected by any decay or injury, this means that the problem is only in the pulp tip. The dentist can leave the healthy part alone and only remove the affected pulp and the tooth decay surrounding it. The gap is filled with biocompatible material that soothes the root and prevents infection. Usually, a crown is placed on the tooth to strengthen the structure and minimize the risk of any future fractures.

Pulp Therapy: Pulpectomy
In cases of severe trauma or tooth decay, the whole tooth pulp might be affected. In such circumstances, the dentist will remove the pulp, cleanse the root canal and fill the area with biocompatible material. The whole pulpectomy process can take several visits to the dentist. The final step is placing a crown on the tooth to give structural support and add strength. The crown can be disguised using a natural-colored covering.

Indeed, pulp therapy is an effective way to manage an exposed tooth pulp. If you have any concerns or questions about exposed tooth pulp and pulp therapy procedures listed above, schedule a consultation with a reputable dentist in your area today. These health professionals can properly explain to you what can cause an exposed tooth pulp, and the steps that should be taken to remedy it.