What is pulp extipation?

[Kamran]

Hi

I have severe toothache from my lower tooth at the very back and it seems to be throbbing and the pain is not settling done with any painkillers that I have taken so far.

I have seen on two sites that they mention pulp extipation for a tooth that hurts and throbs. I am not quite sure what pulp extipation is exactly and if that is part of root canal treatment or not?

Could you tell what pulp extipation is and if its likely that I will need pulp extipation for my tooth? Is the pain likely to stop if I have a pulp extipation and when can the treatment begin?

[Dr Ehsan J. Esfahani]

Hello Kamran,

I am sorry to hear you are suffering from toothache. When a tooth becomes infected with bacteria, the pulp of the tooth which contains the nerve supply becomes inflamed. This inflammation is known as pulpitis and the tooth throbs. If the inflammation is severe the tooth begins to die irreversibly and the pulp of the tooth which contains the nerve and blood supply needs to be removed. This procedure is known as pulp extipation.

Pulp extipation is the first stage of root canal treatment. If you have constant throbbing pain which is not responding to painkillers it is very likely you will need pulp extipation to relieve the pain. This can only be confirmed after assessing the tooth and we have a 24 hour emergency dental service. We can see you same day and treatment started straight away at Pearl.

The alternative treatment is removal of the tooth to relieve the toothache. During pulp extipation medication is placed inside the tooth to treat the infection. Following pulp extipation the pain begins to ease and can take upto 2 days or more to ease completely. A course of antibiotics is also prescribed to reduce the infection. Pulp extipation is only the first stage of treatment and the infection and pain can return if the root canal treatment is not completed.