pulp vitality testing

Question 1

7 Symptoms of Pulpal Damage

Answer 1

• Pain when occluding
• Pain during mastication
• Sensitivity to hot or cold
• Noticeable facial swelling
• Fever
• Tenderness
• Cracked or discoloured tooth

Question 2

normal pulp response to stimuli

Answer 2

• No subjective symptoms or objective signs
• Tooth responds normally to sensory stimuli

Question 3

Pulpitis

Answer 3

• Pulpal tissues have become inflamed.

Question 4

two types of pulpitis

Answer 4

irreversible pulpitis
reversible pulpitis

Question 5

Reversible pulpitis

Answer 5

• Pulp is irritated and patient will experience pain to thermal stimuli
• Placing sedative material may save the pulp

Question 6

irreversible pulpitis

Answer 6

• Display symptoms of lingering pain
• Pulp is incapable of healing
• RCT or extraction are the only options

Question 7

necrotic pulp

Answer 7

• nonvital/dead
• Tooth does not respond to sensory stimuli
• Tooth may be considered “nonvital”; however, it is still attached to the alveolus by the cementum and periodontal ligaments, which are vital.

Question 8

Percussion

Answer 8

Dentist will tap on incisal and occlusal surface

Question 9

Palpation

Answer 9

Dentist will apply firm pressure to the mucosa above

Question 10

2 Methods of Pulp Vitality Testing

Answer 10

• Thermal sensitivity test
• Electric pulp testing

Question 11

thermal sensitivity test

Answer 11

• Uses extreme temperature (hot or cold)
• Never placed on metallic restoration and gingival tissue

Question 12

3 materials used for a cold pulp vitality test

Answer 12

• Dry ice
• Ice
• Carbon dioxide

Question 13

cold pulp vitality test reactions

Answer 13

• A necrotic pulp will not respond to cold
• Cold relieves pain: irreversible pulpitis
• Cold in teeth with reversible pulpitis can initiate severe lingering pain.

Question 14

cold pulp vitality test

Answer 14

a type of thermal pulp vitality test

Question 15

heat pulp vitality test reactions

Answer 15

• painful response can indicate either reversible or irreversible pupitis.
• Necrotic pulp will not respond to heat.

Question 16

heat pulp vitality test

Answer 16

a type of thermal pulp vitality test, uses gutta percha or end of a heated instrument
• Use petroleum jelly so gutta percha will not stick to the tooth

Question 17

electric pulp testing

Answer 17

• Used to determine whether pulp is vital or nonvital.
• May produce a false-positive or false negative response.
• Electric pulp testers deliver a small electrical stimulus to the pulp