Pulp tissue is located inside the tooth. An acute pulp inflammation can intensify the pressure in the close space, causing severe pain. The best way to alleviate the pain is to have a dentist to open the pulp chamber and remove the pulp.

In most cases, the pain will go away after pulpectomy. But does it mean the pulpitis is treated? Is it necessary to continue the treatment? Actually, the disappearance of pain doesn’t mean the completion of the treatment.

Indeed, it may make things worse!

Pulpitis doesn’t go away itself, and the pulp cannot heal without treatment. On the contrary, the inflammation may get worse. Clinically, most patients get rid of the pain caused by acute pulpitis after pulpectomy, then they don’t follow the dentist’s instruction to receive root canal treatment. Actually in the case of pulpitis, the bacteria haven’t entered the root canal. So receiving root canal treatment at this point can always bring about good results.

If the root canal treatment is delayed to a few months, half a year or a year for no matter what reason, a pimple will form on the gums. This is a result of the lack of timely treatment. In that case, the bacteria will enter the root canal and reproduce there, then invade into the alveolar bone through the tiny hole in the root apex, causing apical periodontitis.

When the apical periodontitis develops to an abscess, it turns to chronic apical periodontitis. Treatment for apical abscess is much more difficult, and the patient may suffer from more pain.

Therefore, it is suggested not to discontinue the treatment for acute pulpitis which involves the removal of pulp and root canal treatment. Root canal treatment is a sophisticated procedure requiring multiple visits, so patients must follow the dentist’s instruction to pay follow-up visit in timely manner.

Moreover, here’s a reminder for you: in the case of acute pulpitis, the dentist may first alleviate the pain by removing the pulp or tooth nerves, and then sealing the space. After that, he or she will always tell you when is your next visit for root canal treatment.