Treatment Options for Condensing Osteitis
Once your dentist draws to the conclusion that you have condensing osteitis, the best course of action is to refer you to an endodontist. During your endodontic appointment, your tooth will need to be examined. The endodontist will take a closer look at the area around your tooth and will need to test the vitality of the pulp around it.
This is done by a vital pulp test (VPT). It is usually a combination of four possible methods:
- Cold test
- Hot test
- Electric test
- Cavity test
The test combination that your endodontist will choose will be based on your primary complaint. For example, if you are not experiencing thermal pain or sensitivity in the area, it gives room for a cold or hot test. The electric test requires specific conditions to perform and is not always practical. The cavity test is usually the last resort, as it involves stimulation of the pulp without the use of anesthetic. Vital pulp will have a pain response to this stimulation.
If the pulp in the sclerotic tooth has become necrotic or has developed an irreversible level of pulpitis, which is a severe inflammation of the dental pulp, then the tooth may be impossible to restore properly and will need to be extracted.
The treatment administered to you for condensing osteitis will depend on the underlying cause. Your preferred treatment approach might be a combination of different therapies. Some possible options your dentist or endodontist might recommend include:
- A root canal to help treat inflammation and any infection around the affected tooth.
- Antibiotics [4] can help to treat anuly existing infections.
- Extraction if the affected tooth. This is recommended if there is a suspicion of permanent damage to the pulp.
- Your dentist might also suggest a wait-and-see approach to see if your condition progresses, especially if there are no other symptoms.
According to research, once the teeth have been treated with a root canal, the bone lesions associated with this condition may resolve over time, with partial healing also possible. However, other researchers have noted that permanent pulp inflammation and damage may still exist.