What condition is most commonly associated with sensitivity to percussion?

Sensitivity to percussion is most commonly associated with acute apical periodontitis, which is an inflammatory condition of the dental pulp and surrounding periapical tissues. This condition often results from bacterial infection due to deep caries, trauma, or previous dental treatments that have compromised the pulp. When the pulp becomes inflamed, it leads to swelling in the surrounding tissue, putting pressure on the nerves in the area. As a result, the tooth may become painful when pressure is applied, such as during percussion.

In acute apical periodontitis, this sensitivity can be significant and is often used as a clinical indicator to aid in diagnosis. The pain response to percussion is typically sharp and localized, indicating that there is an active inflammatory process occurring at the apex of the tooth's root.

Reversible pulpitis, while it can cause sensitivity to temperature changes or sweet substances, does not typically cause pain during percussion. Chronic apical periodontitis may not produce acute pain responses and can present with a dull ache or no sensitivity at all, especially if the condition has become non-symptomatic over time. Periapical osteosclerosis involves a reactive change in the bone surrounding the apex of a tooth and is usually asymptomatic, indicating no sensitivity to percussion.