pulp Flashcards
what is pulp
soft connective tissue occupying the pulp space and root canals
what does the pulp provide
vitality to teeth with its cells (odontoblasts, fibroblasts, undifferentiated ectomesenchymal cells, macrophages, other immunocompetent cells), fibre, vascular and nerve supply
richly vascularised + innervated tissue
what is the apical foramen
opening of root pulp into the pdl near the tip of the roots
makes pulp continuous w the pdl
why may pulp necrosis occur
following
1) exposure
2) contamination
what may pulp be termed and why
1) coronal = in the pulp chamber in the crown of the tooth
2) radicular = extends throughout root canal spaces of roots
depending on part of tooth it occupies
how can pulp tissue communicate with the pdl and explain these
lateral and accessory canals
- small communication channels between the 2
- may arise from the floor of pulp chamber or walls of the main root canal
main function of pulp
producing, maintaining and repairing both primary and secondary dentine also tertiary (reactive + reparative) dentine due to injury
what happens to the pulp in response to disease like caries
pulpitis
what is the role of odontoblasts in the pulp
form peripheral cells
what function of pulp mandates use of anaesthesia during cavity prep
protective sensory function
how is the pulp environment sterile
protected from oral organisms and injury by the mineralised hard tissue walls of the coronal and root dentine (and indirectly by enamel and cementum)
pulp morphology for every tooth is unique. what imaging techniques enable us to assess their anatomy
1) plain radiography (2d image)
2) cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) (3d image) = image modality used to evaluate root canal treatment
how does pulp produce
a) primary
b) secondary
dentine
primary
1) Pulp tissue develops from dental papilla of tooth germ
2) peripheral cells of the papilla differentiate into odontoblasts
secondary
1) produced by odontoblasts (slowly but regularly during lifespan of tooth)
2) maintains resilient property of dentine and may help compensate for loss of coronal dentine thickness by tooth surface loss, caries or fracture
explain the sensory function of the pulp dentine complex
1) detect chemical (and indirectly thermal / mechanical) stimuli
2) forms part of feedback mechanism to cns (of noxious stimuli that can be associated with tissue damage)
what are the components of pulp
odontoblasts, nerve fibres and antigen presenting cells
undifferentiated stem cell role in tissue’s response to significant injury as lay down tertiary dentine at specific sites on the walls of the pulp chamber
what is dental pulp a likely source of and why
what will increased outward flow of this help do
DENTINAL FLUID
bc maintains a positive interstitial tissue fluid pressure
may help dilute bacterial toxins in exposed dentinal tubules + detected by the pulp
what does blood supply to the pulp
a) transport
b) dilute and remove
a) immune cells and inflammatory mediators to the area
b) damaging agents to resisting infection
what is the process of tertiary dentine formation following a large injury or pulp exposure
1) stem cells from blood vessel differentiate into odontoblast like cells
2) odontoblast-like cells interact w dentine matrix components
3) reparative dentine / mineralised bridge formed
what is the process of tertiary dentine formation following a minor injury
1) odontoblasts interact w dentine matrix components
2) form reactionary dentine
what 4 distinct regions or histological ‘zones’ can be identified from coronal pulp soft tissue
1) SUPRA-ODONTOBLAST REGION
2) ODONTOBLAST LAYER
3) CELL-FREE ZONE (OF WEIL)
4) CELL-RICH ZONE
describe the SUPRA-ODONTOBLAST REGION
1) space between most peripheral of these zones +unmineralised predentine
2) Nerve axons (most enter + terminate in dentinal tubules) AND the dendritic antigen presenting cells
3) axons on front line + positioned to detect changes in dentinal fluid movement and composition
describe the ODONTOBLAST LAYER
1) most peripheral zone
2) single layer of odontoblast cells (may appear stratified)
odontoblasts reach into pre + mineralised dentine
describe the CELL-FREE ZONE (OF WEIL)
1) beneath odontoblasts
2) prominent in coronal pulp
3) cant see nuclei of cells BUT cell processes of fibroblasts, odontoblasts, nerve axons + capillaries cross this area
4) capillaries, korff fibres, nerves present
4) suggestion its an artifact due to tissue shrinkage
describe the CELL-RICH ZONE
1) high cell density
2) adjacent to cell-free zone in coronal pulp
3) high conc of capillaries (subodontoblastic capillary plexus) AND axons (subodontoblastic neural plexus) and fibroblast cells
4) Schwann cells + endothelial cells associated with these ‘plexi’ result in ‘cell-rich’ appearance
what layer is beneath the CELL-RICH ZONE
deep pulp cavity
- contains subodontoblastic plexus of rashcow
what other areas of the pulp exist
1) central core = occupied by main arterioles, venules (enter by apical and accessory foramina) and nerves (enter by apical foramen)
2) bulk of dental pulp = made up of above + loose connective tissue
3) root canal = neurovascular bundle most evident
4) crown = repeated branching of nerves and blood vessels makes it less obvious
describe pulp composition
1) 75% water 25% organic material
2) loose connective tissue
3) cells embedded in an extracellular matrix of fibres in a ground substance
what is the predominant extracellular matrix component
COLLAGEN
- concentrated in most apical part of pulp
- content incs w age, fibrils organise into bundles
what is the non-fibrillar matrix of pulp
1) secreted by pulps cells
2) glycosaminoglycans, proteoglycans, glycoproteins, and water
3) supports cells + acts as medium for transport between cells + vasculature
what is the neurovascular bundle
formed by nerves together w blood vessels
describe the fibrous component of dental pulp
1) combo of collagen types I (60%) and III (40%) fibrils grouped into fibres thinly + irregularly scattered throughout the tissue
2) at periphery fibres more organised as aligned parallel to the forming predentine surface
what are GLYCOSAMINOGLYCANS (GAGS) and explain their content in mature pulp
1) unbranched polysaccharide chains mostly bound to a protein core to form proteoglycans (in pulp)
2) hydrophilic so in combo with h2o give pulp its unique gel-like properties (allow it to swell + fill most of extracellular space stabilising positions of cellular components + making movement of h2o + ions possible also reservoir for growth factors + bioactive molecules)
CONTENT
60% hyaluronic acid
20% dermatan sulphate
12% chondroitin sulphate
what are GLYCOPROTEINS / PROTEOGLYCANS
1) non-collagenous matrix components
2) Fibronectin (also occurs in fibrous form) and tenascin = most abundant near odontoblast layer + involved in deposition of dentine
3) Fibronectin = binds to membrane receptor proteins (integrins), mediating adhesion between cells, matrix components + vascular endothelium = maintaining structural integrity of pulp
what molecules can be detected at the periphery of the pulp
those more closely associated w dentine
ie dentine sialoprotein + dentine phosphoprotein (both produced by odontoblasts)