Diagnosis and Management of dental pain Flashcards
What steps do we need to take before reaching a diagnosis?
- History
- Examination
- Differential diagnosis
- Investigations
Then you reach your working diagnosis
What is our differential diagnosis?
A list of possible diseases we think the patient ay have
How can ew narrow dow our list of differential diagnosis’s?
By carrying out specific investigations that ether rule in or out the potential causes that we come across
Give examples of dental conditions that are associated with a vital pulp
- Detine hypersensitivity
- Reversible Pulpitis
- Irreversible Pulpitis
- Cracked tooth syndrome
Give some examples of conditions that are associated with a dead tooth
1, Symptomatic apical periodontitis
- Acute apical abscess
- Chronic apical abscess
- Asymptomatic apical periodontitis
Describe the aetiology of dentine hypersensitivity
Hydrodynamic theory of tooth sensitivity
Alpha nerve fibres stimulated
What do patients usually complain of if they have dentine hypersensitivity (icl HPC)
- Short sharp pain
- Worse with hot, cold and sweet things
- Hard to locate
HPC: Only present when stimulus is present
Upon examination wha might you see in a patient wit dentine hypersensitivity?
Look for: Exposed dentine Lost restorations Gingival recession Fractured teeth
List what the likely outcomes are for a patient with dentine hypersensitivity to:
- Sensitivity test
- TTP
- Positive response
2. Not TTP
How can you manage dentine hypersensitivity?
Seal dentinal tubules to prevent fluid flow
Place fluoride varnish
Describe the aetiology of reversible pulpitis
Milk transient inflammation in the pulp
Alpha nerve fibres stimulated
What do patients usually complain of if they have reversible pulpitis (Include HPC)
- Short sharp pan (5-10secs)
2.Worse with cold, hot and sweet things - Hard to locate
HPC: Only present when stimulus is present
Upon examination what might you see in a patient with reversible pulpitis?
Look for:
- Caries
- Cracks
- High restorations
- Deep restorations
List what the likely outcomes are for a patient with reversible pulpitis to:
- Sensitivity test
- TTP
- Positive response
2. Not TTP
What radiograph should you take if you suspect a patient has reversible pulpitis?
Bitewing to look for caries
How do we manage reversible pulpitis
- Removal of irritant
- Protection of the pulp
- Temporary dressings
Describe the aetiology of irreversible pulpitis?
More severe plural inflammation from high it cannot recover
C fibres in the pulp are stimulated
What do patients usually complain of if they have irreversible pulpitis
- More throbbing severe pain
- Worse with hot but can be cold/ sweet stimulus
- Hard to locate
Describe the typical History of presenting complain for a patient with irreversible pulpitis
- Lasts a long time afters stimulus is removed (mins to hrs)
- May be spontaneous
- May keep the patient awake at night
Upon examination what might you see in a patient with irreversible pulpitis?
Look for:
Caries
Deep restorations
List what the likely outcomes are for a patient with irreversible pulpitis to:
- Sensitivity test
- TTP
- Positive response
2. Not TTP
What radiograph should you take if you suspect a patient has irreversible pulpitis?
Bitewings to look for caries
How do we manage irreversible pulpitis
- Temporary reduction of inflammation with pulp- steroid dressing
- RCT
- Extraction
Describe the aetiology of cracked tooth syndrome ?
Cack extending into dentine open when patient bites with tooth and closes after causing pain as fluid id forced into dentinal tubules
What do patients usually complain of if they have cracked tooth syndrome
- Pain on biting or after realising bite
- Usually sensitive to cold
- Difficult to say who tooth hurts
Describe the typical History of presenting complain for a patient with cracked tooth syndrome
Can go on for years
regressively gets worse
Causes avoiding eating on that side
Upon examination what might you see in a patient with cracked tooth syndrome?
Look for:
- occlusal interferences
- Large restoartions
- Visible cracks
List what the likely outcomes are for a patient with cracked tooth syndrome to:
- Sensitivity test
- TTP
- Positive response
2. May be TTP