Okuzeka
Dentistry vocabulary · Root Canal Treatment

Pulpitis

Meaning in dentistry, with examples

/pʌlˈpaɪtɪs/nounCommon term

In dentistry, pulpitis means: Inflammation of the pulp inside a tooth, usually caused by deep decay, cracks or repeated dental work. It ranges from mild and reversible to severe and irreversible.

In Turkish: pulpitis, pulpa iltihabı

How it is used

Dentists diagnose reversible pulpitis (short, sharp pain with cold that stops quickly) or irreversible pulpitis (lingering or spontaneous pain, often worse at night). The diagnosis guides the choice between a filling and root canal treatment.

Example sentences

  1. The pain lingers for minutes after cold, which suggests irreversible pulpitis.

  2. With reversible pulpitis, a sedative filling may be enough.

Common collocations

  • reversible pulpitis
  • irreversible pulpitis
  • symptomatic pulpitis
  • acute pulpitis
  • pulpThe soft tissue in the center of a tooth that contains nerves and blood vessels. It fills the pulp chamber in the crown and the canals in the roots.
  • toothachePain in or around a tooth. It can be caused by decay, a cracked tooth, infection or inflammation of the pulp, and may be sharp, throbbing or constant.
  • root canal treatmentTreatment that removes inflamed or infected pulp from inside a tooth, then cleans, shapes and seals the root canals so that the tooth can be kept.
  • vitality testA test that checks whether the nerve of a tooth still responds, usually by applying cold or a small electric current. It helps show whether the pulp is healthy, inflamed or dead.

More terms: Root Canal Treatment

Practise with graded reading

Reading at the right level is the fastest way to make new words stick. Pick free English books by level:

This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.