Pulp diseases

The life or death of a tooth depends on the health of the pulp. This network of nerves, blood vessels, and tissues occupies a hollow central chamber that extends from the crown of the tooth to its roots. The branch of dentistry that specializes in preventing and treating pulp problems is called endodontics.

The pulp nourishes the surrounding dentin via specialized cells called odontoblasts.

The pulp can be damaged in a number of ways. Among the most common are undetected tooth decay and advanced periodontal disease. Abrasion and erosion can also wear away the tooth's hard outer layers, leaving the pulp vulnerable. Pulp trauma occurs when a tooth is broken or knocked out.

Although tooth sensitivity is a hallmark of pulp injury, hypersensitivity does not in itself mean that the pulp is damaged. It means that the dentin has been exposed, allowing sensations of heat, cold, and irritation to reach the tooth's nerves.

Tooth sensitivity diminishes naturally with age. To reduce sensitivity, you might try one of the many toothpastes made for sensitive teeth.

Pulpitis is an umbrella term for all forms of pulp inflammation. In some cases, a natural coating of dentin will form over the pulp to shield it from the irritant, and the nerve will recover without treatment. A bacterial infection in the pulp usually kills the nerve. The infection then spreads through the dead tissue in the root canal and passes through the opening at the end of the root into the surrounding tissues. Root canal therapy or removing the tooth are the only ways to prevent the infection from invading other parts of the body.

POST-TEXT ASSIGNMENTS

Exercise 6. Answer the questions to the text:

1. On what does the life or death of a tooth depend on?

2. How is called the branch of dentistry that specializes in preventing and treating pulp problems?

3. What does the pulp nourish?

4. How can the pulp be damaged?

5. When does pulp trauma occur?

6. What is the hallmark of pulp injury?

7. How does tooth sensitivity diminish?

8. What you might to do to reduce sensitivity?

9. What does usually kill the nerve?

10. How does the infection then spread?

Exercise 7. Agree or contradict the following statements:

1. The branch of dentistry that specializes in preventing and treating crown problems is called endodontics.

2. Among the most common damages of the pulp are detected tooth decay and advanced periodontal disease.

3. Pulp trauma occurs when a tooth is filled or extracted.

4. Tooth sensitivity diminishes naturally with age.

5. Root canal therapy or removing the tooth are not the only ways to prevent the infection from invading other parts of the body.

Exercise 8. Put questions to the underlined words:

1. The life or death of a tooth depends on the health of the pulp.

2. The pulp can be damaged in a number of ways.

3. Abrasion and erosion can also wear away the tooth's hard outer layers, leaving the pulp vulnerable.

4. Hypersensitivity does not in itself mean that the pulp is damaged.

5. In some cases, a natural coating of dentin will form over the pulp to shield it from the irritant, and the nerve will recover without treatment.

Exercise 9. Retell the text:

TEST

1. The life or death … depends on the health of the pulp.

a) on a tooth

b) in a tooth

c) of a tooth

d) over a tooth

e) under the tooth

2. The branch of dentistry that specializes in preventing and treating pulp problems is called…

a) prothetics

b) endodontics

c) candidiasis

d) gingivitis

3. Among the most common are …

a) undetected tooth decay and advanced periodontal disease

b) detected tooth decay and advanced periodontal disease

c) undetected tooth decay and abrasion

d) advanced periodontal disease and erosion

4. Tooth sensitivity … naturally with age.

a) increases

b) diminishes

c) stops

d) continues

e) centers

5. Pulp … occurs when a tooth is broken or knocked out.

a) trauma

b) damage

c) injury

d) cut

e) fissure

6. Abrasion and erosion … also wear away the tooth's hard outer layers, leaving the pulp vulnerable.

a) can

b) ought to

c) should

d) need

e) had to

7. Pulpitis is an umbrella term for all forms …

a) of pulp inflammation

b) in pulp inflammation

c) on pulp inflammation

d) over pulp inflammation

e) under pulp inflammation

8. A bacterial infection in the pulp usually … the nerve.

a) treats

b) prevents

c) kills

d) protects

e) extracts

9. A natural coating of dentin will form … the pulp to shield it from the irritant, and the nerve will recover without treatment.

a) in

b) on

c) over

d) under

e) behind

10. The infection then spreads through the dead tissue in the root canal and passes through the opening at the end of the root into the...

a) surrounding tissues

b) connective tissues

c) dental tissue

d) elastic tissue

e) malignant tissue

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