What term describes the second condition a patient may experience during a carious attack?

The term that describes the second condition a patient may experience during a carious attack is irreversible pulpitis. This condition occurs when the dental pulp—the innermost part of the tooth that contains nerves and blood vessels—becomes inflamed due to the progression of caries (tooth decay). As caries advances deeper into the tooth, it can lead to significant inflammation and damage to the pulp tissue, resulting in irreversible pulpitis.

In this state, the pulp tissue cannot heal and may eventually lead to necrosis if not treated, which could progress to more severe complications like an abscess. In contrast, reversible pulpitis is a less severe form of pulp inflammation that may occur early during carious progression, where the pulp can still recover if the irritant (such as decay) is removed.

Identifying irreversible pulpitis is critical in dental practice, as it dictates the necessary treatment approach, which may involve root canal therapy or extraction to manage the irreversible damage to the pulp.