Dental pulpal testing sounds like a strange phrase, right? Well, it may sound weird, but it’s extremely important in ensuring your teeth are healthy, happy, and able to go the long haul. If you’ve been experiencing oral pain, your dentist might perform dental pulpal testing to determine the health status of the pulp chamber and the root canals of your teeth.
With this in mind, let’s explore why people come to Centre Dentaire—the dentist Lachine residents trust—with their tooth issues.
What Exactly is Dental Pulpal Testing?
If your dentist suggests that she needs to perform dental pulpal testing, she’s trying to figure out if your dental pulp—that is, the substance that lives inside the enamel—is viable and healthy. If it’s not, you might need a root canal or other type of procedure to protect your teeth and gums.
Two Types of Dental Pulpal Testing
Your dentist will be looking for a few things when she performs dental pulpal testing:
- How much blood supply is going to the tooth?
- How sensitive are the pulp and surrounding gums and tissue?
Once she has a gauge on both of these things, your dentist will be able to determine the overall health status of your tooth or teeth. These tests can help your doctor figure out where you’re having pain if you’ve complained of oral health discomfort, how recent trauma might have affected your teeth, or what future steps might be necessary in the event you may need a root canal, dental implant, or other more intensive procedure.
Why Does Dental Pulpal Testing Matter?
Before your dentist performs any procedure, she’ll need to make sure she understands the gravity of your current pain and how healthy (or unhealthy) the tooth is. That’s where dental pulpal testing comes into play. Using a variety of sensory fibers, your dentist will assess the level of blood flow and sensitivity going to the tooth or teeth in question.
If you’ve reported tooth pain, your dentist may perform dental pulpal tests on the teeth that seem to be fine so she can determine what a “normal” baseline is. From there, the painful teeth will be put into question. With an entire range of what’s comfortable, “normal”, and not, your dentist will be better able to diagnose your ailment.
If you’re searching for a dentist Lachine patients are comfortable talking to when tooth pain takes over, you’ve come to the right place. Schedule your initial visit with Dre Nathalie Kadoch and our Centre Dentaire team today!