What is acute pulpitis?

Acute pulpitis is an acute inflammation caused by bacterial or other pathogenic microbial infection of the dental pulp tissue. Its main characteristics include: 1. Sudden onset: Acute pulpitis develops rapidly, and patients often experience severe, intolerable pain. 2. Severe pain: The pain is intense and often presents as spontaneous pain, paroxysmal pain, nocturnal pain, and pain triggered by temperature stimuli. This pain is often not effectively relieved by common analgesic medications. 3. Urgent need for treatment: If not treated promptly, acute pulpitis may progress to pulp necrosis and even cause apical infection. Therefore, definitive pulp treatment, such as root canal therapy, is a necessary measure to cure acute pulpitis. 4. Associated symptoms: Patients may exhibit accompanying symptoms such as swelling of the periodontal soft tissues, lip numbness, and systemic symptoms like fever. If there is any doubt, prompt medical consultation is recommended for diagnosis and treatment by a qualified dental professional.