Care of the Pulp (endodontics) Flashcards
what cells found within the pulp help to form the tooth?
ODONTOBLASTS
what type of tissue is the pulp?
a VITAL TISSUE
what is meant by a vital tissue?
- regenerative material
- responds to stimuli
what are the functions of the pulp?
- nutritive
- protective
- sensory
- formative
what is meant by the PROTECTIVE function of the pulp?
it forms tertiary dentine during reparative healing
what is involved in the SENSORY function of the pulp?
- temperature
- pressure
- pain
what is meant by the FORMATIVE function of the pulp?
it forms secondary dentine (part of the ageing process of the tooth)
explain the size of the pulp in a young person?
LARGE
explain how the pulp changes as a person ages?
pulp gets narrower and narrower over time due to laying down of SECONDARY DENTINE
what can injure the pulp?
- caries
- cavity prep
- restorative materials
- trauma
- toothwear
- periodontal pathology
- orthodontic treatment
- radiation therapy
how can cavity/crown prep damage the pulp?
- the high speed burr moves very fast which generates heat !
- type of burr used may damage pulp
how to avoid damaging the pulp when using the high speed hand-piece?
always have the water spray on !
what is meant by RDT?
remaining dentine thickness
what is important about RDT?
- a low RDT may cause damage to pulp
why may a low RDT cause damage?
- dental tubules more permeable
- restorative material can be toxic
how can a restorative material damage the pulp?
- toxic
- heat of setting reaction
- water absorption
- poor marginal adaption/seal
- cementation of restoration
explain the dentine tubules as they get closer to pulp?
- increase in number
- increase in diameter (closer together)
the DEEPER THE CAVITY….
the GREATER THE DENTINE PERMEABILITY
- easier for substances to reach pulp
what travels through dental tubules?
- bacterial substances
- polysaccharides
- antibodies
- immune complexes
- complement proteins
- tissue destruction products
what BACTERIA can be found in dental tubules?
- endotoxins
- exotoxins
- enzymes
- peptides
what is DENTAL PAIN caused by?
the activation of ALPHA FIBRES and C-FIBRES
explain the myelination of alpha fibres:
myelinated
explain the myelination of C-fibres:
non-myelinated
what type of pain is caused by activation of alpha fibres?
SHARP PAIN