National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB) Practice Exam

Acute pulpitis is inflammation of the pulp of a tooth, which may be caused by trauma or infection. In permanent molars, it is characterized by severe and sudden onset pain, often lasting for 24 hours. In such cases, the radiograph typically shows a normal appearance, as there is no evidence of periodontal ligament space widening, loss of lamina dura, or periapical radiolucency. These findings would instead be suggestive of other, more severe conditions, such as periodontal disease or periapical pathology. Therefore, in the case of acute pulpitis of 24-hour duration in permanent molars, a normal appearance on radiograph is expected.