Tooth #3 has lingering pain greater than 20 seconds after a cold test. (Tooth #2 tests negative to cold but is painful to percussion/palpation; tooth #4 has exaggerated but non-lingering cold response.) What is the pulpal diagnosis of tooth #3?

Pain that lingers well beyond the cold stimulus (more than ~15-20 seconds) indicates symptomatic irreversible pulpitis.Other options: Reversible pulpitis resolves quickly after the stimulus; necrosis gives no response to cold; a normal pulp responds briefly and proportionately.Key exam takeaway: Lingering cold pain (>15-20 s) = symptomatic irreversible pulpitis.