Pulp gangrene is the infection and decay of the pulp under the influence of putrefactive bacteria. It can occur as a result of an abscess or untreated caries, or as a complication of necrosis and can affect the entire dental pulp.
There are no obvious symptoms for simple gangrene, only possible deep carious lesions, dyschromia or lack of sensation. The evolution of the disease leads to the fracture of the tooth. When the infection progresses to the tip of the root, it turns into complicated gangrene - acute apical periodontitis - and can even affect the whole body.
Complicated gangrene is manifested by tenderness to pressure, radiographic evidence of infection, and possibly the odor emanating from the decayed tooth.
The treatment consists in the removal of the necrotic or infected pulp and the control of the infection by mechanical and medicinal treatment, ending with obturation of the root canals and coronary reconstruction.
Cleaning and disinfection of the root canals is carried out during 2-6 treatment sessions.
For children or young patients, before the definitive obturation of the canals, a temporary obturation with calcium hydroxide will be performed to achieve root growth, a treatment that requires periodic clinical and radiological controls.
