Classification
Closed Chronic Pulpitis
No communication with oral cavity; bacteria enter via tubules; commonly asymptomatic
- • Deep caries or large restoration
- • Minimal or no symptoms
- • Positive vitality testing
- • Radiographic calcifications may be present
Open Chronic Pulpitis
Communication with oral environment via carious exposure; polymicrobial infection
- • Visible carious exposure
- • Intermittent mild aching or no pain
- • Odor from tooth
- • Bacterial colonization of pulp
Hyperplastic Pulpitis (Pulp Polyp)
Proliferative variant; granulation tissue fills carious exposure and protrudes
- • Visible pink-red tissue mass in caries
- • Painless on light touch
- • Almost exclusively in children/young adults
- • Exuberant vascular supply required
Chronic Ulcerative Pulpitis
Open exposure with surface ulceration rather than proliferation
- • Surface necrosis of exposed pulp
- • Dull aching on food impaction
- • Gray-brown surface to pulp
- • Intermediate between open and necrotic