Pulp morphology

Question 1

What is the name of the portion of pulp in the crown?

Answer 1

pulp chamber / coronal pulp

Question 2

What is the name of the portion of pulp in the root?

Answer 2

root pulp / radicular pulp (/pulp canal / root canal)

Question 3

What makes up the root canal system?

Answer 3

pulp chamber and root canal

Question 4

What is the general outline of the root canal system?

Answer 4

follows the general outline of the crown and root

Question 5

Name of the process in RCT where pulp tissue is removed

Answer 5

pulp extirpation

Question 6

Where are the orifices (entrances) to the root canals found?

Answer 6

floor of pulp chamber

Question 7

What is mean by conservative treatment?

Answer 7

e.g. superficial caries with no signs of pulpitis does not require RCT

Question 8

What is the name of the curating material placed inside root canal?

Answer 8

gutta-percha

Question 9

What is the name of the condition when bacteria enter the apex (apical portion of tooth’s tip)?

Answer 9

periapical/periradicular periodontitis

Question 10

Why is it important that gutta-percha does not extrude from the root or be too short?

Answer 10

would be a foreign body / infection remains

Question 11

What is root canal treatment?

Answer 11

removing the microbial contamination of the entire root canal system

Question 12

Difference in bone for maxilla and mandible

Answer 12

Maxilla is porous bone whereas mandible is condensed bone (more radiopaque)

Question 13

What are pulp horns?

Answer 13

projections / prolongations in the roof of pulp chambers

Question 14

What does the shape of pulp horns correspond to?

Answer 14

cusps or lobes of the crown

Question 15

In which individuals are pulp horns more prominent in?

Answer 15

young individuals (less secondary dentine)

Question 16

How does the size of the pulp chamber change with age?

Answer 16

reduces in size due to formation of secondary dentine

Question 17

Which individuals must greater care be taken to avoid exposure of pulp?

Answer 17

younger individuals (less secondary dentine so larger pulp chamber)

Question 18

What are the different types of sections that can be taken of a an upper central incisor to explore the root canal system?

Answer 18

cross section, mesiodistal section, labiopalatal section

Question 19

Shape of the pulp cavity of upper central incisor along the root

Answer 19

tapers evenly along the entire length of the root until reaching the apical constriction

Question 20

What is the typical outline of the root canal at the cervical level of an upper central?

Answer 20

triangular with rounded corners

Question 21

Where is the pulp cavity widest?

Answer 21

cervical level

Question 22

Where is the pulp chamber located?

Answer 22

centred within the dentine

Question 23

Where is the narrowest part of the canal found?

Answer 23

apical constriction

Question 24

Name of the opening at the apex that allows blood vessels and nerves to supply pulp

Answer 24

apical foramen

Question 25

What are the possible variations a root canal may end in?

Answer 25

a single apical foramen or a delta of small canals (root canals can have different anatomical variations)

Question 26

What are lateral and accessory canals?

Answer 26

channels of communication between the main body of the root canal and the periodontal ligament space

Question 27

Where are lateral and accessory canals located?

Answer 27

anywhere along the length of the root canal, at right angles to the main canal

Question 28

How do lateral and accessory canals form?

Answer 28

due to a break in Hertwig's epithelial root sheath / sheath grows around existing blood vessels

Question 29

What percentage of central incisors have accessory canals?

Answer 29

60%

Question 30

What may be used to fill lateral/accessory canals?

Answer 30

lateral sealer puff

Question 31

Definition of anastomosis in pulp morphology

Answer 31

where two canals exists within the same root lateral communication in the form of fins or accessory canals occurring between them (communication of two root canals in the same root via fins or accessory canals)

Question 32

What should a good access cavity allow?

Answer 32

straight line access

Question 33

How many canals are usually present in upper first molars?

Answer 33

4 canals - one palatal, one disto-buccal, usually 2 mesiobuccal canals

Question 34

What percentage of upper first molars have a second mesiobuccal canal?

Answer 34

over 60%

Question 35

Which is the most heavily restored tooth in the adult dentition, and hence a frequent RCT candidate?

Answer 35

lower first molar (one of the first permanent teeth to erupt - age 6 alongside lower centrals)

Question 36

What direction may the roots of a lower first molar curve?

Answer 36

distal curvature (most prominent on mesial root)

Question 37

Which root of the lower first molar is widest?

Answer 37

mesial root wider than distal

Question 38

How many root canals are typically found in a lower first molar?

Answer 38

3 canals - 2 in mesial root (buccal and lingual with isthmus in between), and 1 oval canal in distal

Question 39

How are the root canals of the lower second molar similar to the lower first molar?

Answer 39

also 3 canals - 2 in mesial root and 1 in distal root

Question 40

How do the root canals of the lower second molar differ from the lower first molar?

Answer 40

mesial canals lie closer in lower second molar, incidence of 2 distal canals much less

Question 41

Location of distal canal orifice in lower second molar (if one distal canal present)

Answer 41

large orifice located just distal to centre of crown

Question 42

Why is it important to know the shape of access cavities?

Answer 42

to be as conservative as possible by understanding location of canals