Care of the pulp

Question 1

What are the functions of dental pulp

Answer 1

Nutrition​

Sensory functions​

Proprioception​

Dentin formation​

Defense ​

Root formation & development

Question 2

What cells are found in the dental pulp

Answer 2

Fibroblasts​

Odontoblasts​

Histiocytes ​

Macrophages​

Granulocytes​

Mast Cells​

Plasma Cells​

Blood vessels​

Nerves (Plexus of Rashcow)​

Question 3

What is the function of odontoblasts within pulp

Answer 3

Reparative dentin formation​

Recognition of noxious stimuli ​

Dental pulp regeneration

Question 4

Which type of nerves can resist hypoxia in the pulp

Answer 4

Unmyelinated

Question 5

What things cause pulp disease

Answer 5

Caries​

Cracks​

Trauma​

Iatrogenic​

Attrition​

Restorations​

Periodontal disease​

Aggressive scaling

Question 6

What does iatrogenic mean

Answer 6

Caused by previous treatment or practitioner

Question 7

What is the most common cause of pulp disease

Answer 7

Caries

Question 8

What layers of dentine are present upon infected

Answer 8

Necrotic area
Contominated
Demineralised
Translucent
Sound
Tertiary

Question 9

What are the advantages of a rubber dam

Answer 9

Aseptic technique​

Retraction of soft tissues​

Protection of soft tissues​

Airway protection​

Improves visualization ​

Saves time

Question 10

What solutions can be used for cavity disinfection

Answer 10

Sodium Hypochlorite (NaOCL)
Clorohexidine (CHX)

Question 11

What can sodium hypochlorite be used for

Answer 11

Haemostasis​

Disinfection​

Biofilm removal​

Clearance of dentine chips

Question 12

What cavity liners and bases are used for vital pulp therapy

Answer 12

Calcium hydroxide (Dycal)​

Calcium silicate cements (MTA/Biodentine/BC Putty)

Question 13

What are the properties of calcium hydroxide (Dycal)

Answer 13

Dissociates into calcium and Hydroxyl ions creating the alkalina pH

Bactericidal ​

High pH (12.5)​

Highly soluble & water sorption ​

Formation of dentine bridge​

No longer recommended in direct pulp exposure​

Poor quality of dentine bridge

Question 14

When are calcium silicate cements used

Answer 14

Direct and indirect pulp capping​

Pulpotomies​

Root canal filling material​

Perforations repair​

Regenerative endodontic procedures

Question 15

What properties do biodentine and Mineral trioxide aggregate have in common

Answer 15

Antimicrobial​

Bioinductive & Osteoinductive​

Non-cytotoxic​

Provides hermetic seal

Question 16

What are the benefits of using biodentine over MTA

Answer 16

No discoloration ​

Setting time 10-13 mins​

Radio-opacity similar or less than dentine

Question 17

What are the techniques of caries removal

Answer 17

Selective and non-selective

Question 18

How does a stepwise treatment act to protect the pulp

Answer 18

The soft caries are removed first then the biomaterial is applied for 6-12 months to allow time for reparative (tertiary) dentine to form for the firn caries to be properly removed and allow a restoration to be placed without damaging pulp

Question 19

When is indirect pulp capping used

Answer 19

When there is nodirect exposure of the pulp tissues but it may be visable through dentine and acts as a layer of protection

Question 20

What VPT options are availble on exposure of pulp

Answer 20

Direct Pulp Capping​

Partial Pulpotomy​

Complete Pulpotomy

Question 21

What are the steps to direct pulp capping

Answer 21

Disinfect apply sodium hypochloride for homeostasis
Apply biomaterial (biodentine usually)
Seal bioactive material with resin modified glass ionomer
Then apply restoration

Question 22

Who invented the partial pulpotomy

Answer 22

Cvek

Question 22

What does a partial pulpotomy involve

Answer 22

Removal of 1-3mm of coronal pulp tissues before applying the bioactive layer

Question 23

What is a complete pulpotomy

Answer 23

Complete removal of coronal pulp tissues

Question 24

What are the more recent common biomaterials used

Answer 24

biodentine or MTA