
What happens to a tooth with pulpitis?
Disease description:
I have a decayed tooth that has been causing severe pain recently, and sometimes even drinking water is painful. My friend said it might be caused by pulpitis. What happens to a tooth with pulpitis?

Pulpitis is a common dental disease that may cause severe damage to the tooth if not treated promptly. The primary treatment for pulpitis is root canal therapy, a multi-step process designed to thoroughly remove the infection and preserve the affected tooth.
1. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia to minimize the patient's discomfort. Subsequently, the dentist will perform an opening in the tooth to drain the pulp chamber and relieve internal pressure, thereby alleviating pain.
2. The dentist will remove the infected pulp tissue and thoroughly clean and disinfect the root canals to eliminate the source of infection.
3. The root canals, from which the pulp has been removed, are then filled with root canal filling material to seal them off from external contaminants and prevent reinfection.
Throughout the entire treatment process, patients should avoid consuming excessively hard, sour, or cold foods, and should maintain good oral hygiene by brushing their teeth regularly. Additionally, as directed by the dentist, patients may need to take antibiotics and pain medications to control infection and relieve discomfort.