Pulp

Question 1

What is dental pulp

Answer 1

• The specialized soft connective tissue of the tooth

* Occupies the pulp chamber and root canal(s)

Question 2

What is the role of the dental pulp

Answer 2

• Active throughout life and maintains health of dentine through odontoblast layer
• Functionally and structurally associated to dentine
• Provides sensation (nerve endings) and blood supply (nutrients and immune cells)

Question 3

What is the coronal pulp

Answer 3

occupies the crown of the tooth and has six surfaces; occlusal, mesial, distal, buccal, lingual and the floor.

Question 4

What is the radicular pulp

Answer 4

extends from the cervix down to the apex of the tooth. Molars and premolars exhibit multiple radicular pulps. This pulp is tapered and conical

Question 5

Where can odontoblasts be found in the dentin

Answer 5

right next to the pulp, innermost section of the dentin layer

Question 6

What do the fibroblasts in the pulp do

Answer 6

Demonstrates the ability to degrade collagen as well as form it

Question 7

What is the role of perivascular cells in the pulp

Answer 7

Undifferentiated mesenchymal cells, they’re present in the pulp and can give rise to odontoblasts, fibroblasts or macrophages

Question 8

What is the zone of weil in the pulp

Answer 8

Its a cell-free zone that consists of nerves and capillary plexuses

Question 9

What are the microscopic zones of the pulp

Answer 9

Odontoblastic layer
Cell-free zone
Cell-rich zone (more cells and vascularity)
Pulpal core (more cells and vascularity)

Question 10

What is the role of odontoblasts in the pulp

Answer 10

Contributes to the protection of the pulp

BTW - the processes of odontoblasts still extend into the dentin tubules from the pulp

Question 11

What are some inflammatory cells in the pulp

Answer 11

T lymphocytes
Macrophages
Dendritic antigen presenting cells

Question 12

Where are macrophages found in the pulp

Answer 12

Found predominantly around central blood vessels and

adjacent to odontoblast layer

Question 13

Where are dendritic antigen presenting cells found in the dentin

Answer 13

Similar distribution to macrophages, but also may be found between odontoblasts and dentine

Question 14

What is the bottom point of the roots where the pulp enters through called

Answer 14

the apical foramen

Question 15

Describe how the vascular supply ascends to the pulp

Answer 15

• small arterioles enter the pulp via the apical foramen
• ascend through the radicular pulp of the root canal
• branch out peripherally to form a dense capillary network immediately under and sometimes extending up into the odontoblast layer
• Small venules drain the capillary bed and eventually leave as veins via the apical foramen.

Question 16

Why are pulpal vessel walls allowed to be very thin

Answer 16

As the pulp is protected by a hard unyielding sheath of dentin.

Question 17

Why do the capillaries in the pulp exhibit numerous pores

Answer 17

the high metabolic activity of the odontoblast layer

Question 18

Is blood flow/pressure quite high or low in the pulp

Answer 18

Quite high

Question 19

What are arteriolar-venous anastomoses

Answer 19

Points that are frequent in the pulp where the arteries and vein vessels connect and overlap

Question 20

What autonomic fibres are found in the pulp

Answer 20

Only sympathetic fibres

Question 21

Describe the features of the sympathetic fibres, include where they originate

Answer 21

• fibres extend from the neurons whose cell bodies are found in the superior cervical ganglion at the base of the skull
• They are unmyelinated fibres
• Travel with the blood vessels.

Question 22

What do the sympathetic fibres in the pulp do

Answer 22

They innervate the smooth muscle cells of the arterioles and therefore function in regulation of blood flow in the capillary

Question 23

What afferent (sensory) fibres are found in the pulp and where do they terminate

Answer 23

• maxillary and mandibular branches of the fifth cranial nerve
• terminate in the central pulp

Question 24

What is the subodontoblastic plexus

Answer 24

Small individual fibres from the afferent fibres that form this plexus just under the odontoblast layer, these terminate as free nerve endings near the odontoblasts.

Question 25

Where is the subodontoblastic plexus mainly found

Answer 25

The subodontoblastic plexus is primarily located in the roof and lateral walls of the coronal pulp. It is less developed in the root canals.

Question 26

What are the functions of the dental pulp

Answer 26

A living pulp is required to maintain dentine integrity and tooth sensitivity

• The primary function is providing vitality to the tooth.
• inductive
• protective

Question 27

What is the inductive function of the pulp

Answer 27

very early in development the future pulp interacts with surrounding tissues and initiates tooth formation.

Question 28

Describe the protective function of the pulp

Answer 28

pulp responds to stimuli like heat, cold, pressure, operative cutting procedures of the dentin, caries, formation of sclerotic and reactive dentin

Question 29

What does inflammation of the pulp due to caries cause

Answer 29

high fluid content and swelling: compression of nerve fibres on the walls of the pulp cavity and pain

Question 30

What happens to the pulp with age

Answer 30

• less cellular
• more fibrous
• overall reduction in volume due to the continued
deposition of dentin (secondary/reactive)