Select each of the three tabs below in turn to find out more about the underlying causes of Severe Pulpitis:
Tooth decay is often caused by having too much sugary food and drink and not cleaning your teeth and gums. Tooth decay may not cause any symptoms at first, but if it gets worse it can lead to problems, such as a hole forming in the tooth (dental cavity). Deep dental cavities can lead to toothache when eating cold or sweet food and can lead to severe toothache when the nerve of the tooth is inflamed, which is called “Irreversible Pulpitis” or “Severe Pulpitis”.
Dental trauma is when your teeth, gums, or mouth get hurt. This can happen if you fall, get hit while playing sports, or have an accident. This injury can also cause the dental nerve to get inflamed, leading to Severe Pulpitis. Dental trauma is more often associated with front teeth.
After a deep filling, the tooth’s nerve can sometimes get irritated or inflamed because the filling is close to it. Sometimes, the irritation settles down on its own, but other times it can get worse and lead to Severe Pulpitis. An old filling can also cause problems if it doesn’t fit tightly anymore. When this happens, decay can form underneath the filling, and this can also lead to Severe Pulpitis.
What could happen next with Severe Pulpitis?
Doing nothing: If you have Severe Pulpitis and don’t go to the dentist, the nerve inside your tooth might die. This is called dental pulp necrosis (necrosis is when cells and tissues die). At first, the pain might go away, but then the tooth can get infected and form an abscess. This can cause more serious problems if you don’t get a root canal treatment or have the tooth taken out.
