Packing the cavity with a cotton pellet slightly moistened with eugenol is a treatment for which dental condition?

The treatment you described involving packing the cavity with a cotton pellet slightly moistened with eugenol is specifically indicated for acute pulpitis. This dental condition is characterized by inflammation of the dental pulp, which can lead to severe pain and sensitivity.

Eugenol has analgesic and antibacterial properties, making it useful in providing relief from pain and preventing infection, which is particularly important in the context of acute pulpitis where the pulp is already in a state of irritation or infection. By placing a moistened cotton pellet in the cavity, the goal is to soothe the inflamed area, promote healing, and help manage any discomfort the patient may be experiencing due to the acute condition.

The other options, while related to dental health issues, do not specifically require the use of eugenol in this manner. For example, chronic pulpitis might not necessitate such immediate symptomatic treatment as eugenol would provide, as the condition is typically more stable. Apical periodontitis often requires different management strategies aimed at the area surrounding the root of the tooth, while dental caries treatment involves removal of decay and does not usually involve packing the cavity with medicated cotton in the acute phase.