Pulptitis

Pulpitis

Pulpitis often shows up as a discolored tooth. Pulpitis in dogs and cats is the inflammation of the dental pulp, the innermost part of the tooth containing nerves and blood vessels.

Tooth discoloration can occur when the blood supply to a tooth is disrupted, whether temporarily or permanently. This disruption causes the hemoglobin in the pulp cavity to break down into byproducts that seep into the dentin, giving the tooth a pink or purple tint. If the degradation continues, the tooth may turn blue or gray.

Research involving dogs with stained teeth found that over 92% of these cases involved nonvital teeth—teeth with partial or total pulp necrosis. Non-vitality often results from trauma, such as tooth subluxation, luxation, or avulsion. Additionally, anachoresis, a type of blood-borne infection affecting the tooth apex, can lead to non-vitality (a dead tooth).

In some cases, tooth discoloration can be temporary, as seen in reversible pulpitis caused by inflammation or trauma. With proper treatment, the pulp cavity can recover, and the tooth color may return to normal. Pain is common with conditions like acute periapical periodontitis or acute periapical abscess, and the same is likely for our patients.

Determining the exact timing of trauma or inflammation can be challenging. If a tooth’s tip or the coronal one-fourth of a crown shows acute discoloration, consider reversible pulpitis initially. It is typically caused by trauma, tooth fractures, or severe dental decay. Symptoms include pain, sensitivity to temperature, and discoloration of the affected tooth. If untreated, pulpitis can lead to infection and abscess formation. Veterinary intervention, such as root canal therapy or extraction, is necessary to treat irreversible pulpitis and alleviate pain.