Pulp Flashcards
the pulp is highly vascularised with rich nerve supply AND blood supply. how are arterioles arranged in pulp
run longitudinally through root canals, branch into periphery
how are the capillaries arranged in pulp
a network sits beneath and within odontoblasts
DO NOT enter the dentinal tubules
supply o2/nutrients during dentinogensis
how are the nerves arranged in the pulp
centrally in pulp, close association with blood vesseks
what is the effect of age on the pulp size
shrinks with age as more dentine laid down
in the crown there is a nerve plexus beneath the odontoblasts. what is it called
raschkow’s plexus
which cell forms the bulk of pulpal tissue
fibroblasts
why is dentine sensitive when exposed causing pain
3 theories:
- stimulation of nerves innervating the tubules
- odontoblasts act as receptors (embryological origin)
- hydrodynamic theory
what is the hydrodynamic theory
all the stimuli trigger a fluid flow within the dentinal tubule
this stimulates the free nerve endings between the odontoblasts and within the tubules
why is the hydrodynamic theory favoured
- the most sensitive region of dentine is the outer dentine under enamel/cementum
- deciduous teeth have fewer axons but same sensitive
- sensitivity returns when the odontoblast layer is innervated even when there is no nerves in tubules
- no evidence for synapses between odontoblasts and adjacent nerve fibres…odontoblasts cannot act as sensory receptors therefore
- when you occlude the tubules, sensitivity is removed
how does anti-sensitivity toothpaste work
deposits mineral within the dentinal tubules which reduces fluid flow and therefore stimulation of the nerve endings in the odontoblast layer
what are denticles
mineralised pulp stones. complicate endodontic treatment
as age increases, more denticles
what is the difference between true and false denticles
true denticles= formed by odontoblast-like cells, found in tubules
false denitcles= NOT found in dentinal tubules
