Pulp

Question 1

Pulp

Answer 1

1. Pulp is the soft tissue located in the pulp cavity
2. Consists of:
   
   1. Odontoblast layer
   2. Cell free zone
   3. Cell rich zone (fibroblasts)
   4. Pulp core (major vessels and nerves)
3. The core of the pulp tissue is collagen type I Hydrogel
4. Pulp (core) contains:
   
   1. Pulp fibroblasts
   2. Pulp vascular system
      
      1. Large vessesls often bundle with nerves
      2. Small vessels form a sub-odontoblast capillary network
   3. Lymph vessels
      
      1. Terminal small vessels in the crown region
      2. Joined together in the apex into larger venules
   4. Nerves
      
      1. Both myelated and non-myelated.
      2. Large nerves enter through the roots and branch into a network of fine neurons called Raschkow’s Plexus
      3. Branch into smaller nerves innervating the odontoblasts
   5. Other cell types
      
      1. Fibroblasts
      2. Macrophages
      3. Dendritic cells
   6. Stem cells
      
      1. Non-differentiated mesenchymal cells
5. Several possible stem cell niches:
   
   1. Undifferentiated mesenchymal cells (so-called sub-odontoblasts that remained “un-comitted” as the other half became preodontoblasts) residing in the cell-rich layer
   2. Perivascular cell population associated with the pulpal vasculature
   3. Notch-2 positive cell population within the central pulpal stoma

Question 2

Regenerative endodontics

Answer 2

1. New field
2. Vital pulp treatment
   
   1. Different modes of pulp capping, CaOH₂ with and without growth factors
3. Stem cell therapies
4. A combination of stem cell therapies and pulp capping
5. Vital dentin bridge