Pulp and Pulp Responses

Question 1

3 descriptions of the pulp

Answer 1

• connective tissue
• essentially a matured dental papilla
• dentine is the calcified tissue of the pulp

Question 2

3 pulpal functions

Answer 2

• dentine formation
• defence and repair
• sensory

Question 3

similarities of pulp compared to connective tissue

Answer 3

• cells are mainly fibroblasts
• extraceullar matrix of fibrous (collagen) and non-fibrous components
• blood vessels and nerves
• 75% water; 25% organic

Question 4

differences of pulp compared to connective tissue

Answer 4

• has specialised cells called odontoblasts
• is contained within a rigid chamber
• blood vessels are wide and thin
• densely innervated

Question 5

Give the 4 pulpal cells

Answer 5

odontoblasts
fibroblasts
stem cells
defence cells

Question 6

what type of cells are odontoblasts?

Answer 6

specialised ectomensenchymal cells

Question 7

where are the odontoblast processes found?

Answer 7

in dentine

Question 8

what do odontoblasts produce upon mild irritation of the pulp?

Answer 8

reactionary tertiary dentine

Question 9

how is odontoblast activity controlled?

Answer 9

by growth factors

Question 10

what are the defence cells of the pulp?

Answer 10

macrophages and T-lymphocytes

Question 11

what can stem cells differentiate into in the pulp?

Answer 11

fibroblasts or odontoblasts

Question 12

how do number of stem cells in the pulp change with age?

Answer 12

they decline with age

Question 13

what is the most numerous of pulpal cell types?

Answer 13

fibroblasts

Question 14

what fibres are and are not seen in the pulp?

Answer 14

collagen fibres are seen

oxytalin fibres are not seen

Question 15

where does the blood supply terminate in the pulp?

Answer 15

in rich sub-odontoblastic capillary plexus

Question 16

what do the venules of the pulp not have?

Answer 16

valves

Question 17

what does stimuli to dentine result in?

Answer 17

pain
increased blood flow
axon reflex –> vasodilation; increased capillary permeability; increased sensitivity

Question 18

what is the new theory for pulpal death?

Answer 18

due to stasis of blood vessels

Question 19

what venous structure is classically found in the Cell Free Zone of the pulp?

Answer 19

Plexus of Raschkow

Question 20

what venous structure is found around odontoblasts?

Answer 20

Marginal Plexus

Question 21

how does dentinal fluid flow change with pressure?

Answer 21

with pulpal pressure :
inflammation
vasoconstrictors

Question 22

what are the contents are dentinal fluid?

Answer 22

proteins, glycoproteins and polysaccharides

Question 23

what percentage of axons that enter a tooth are non-myelinated?

Answer 23

70-80%

Question 24

what happens to the odontoblasts of the pulp with age?

Answer 24

• 50% have apoptosed
• smaller
• less synthetic organelles

Question 25

what happens to the fibroblasts of the pulp with age?

Answer 25

less activity

Question 26

what happens to the pulp with age in terms of vascularity and sensitivity?

Answer 26

decrease in nerve sensitivity and decrease in vascularity

Question 27

what does calcification of the pulp make?

Answer 27

true pulp stones and false pulp stones

Question 28

what are true pulp stones?

Answer 28

tubular structure from odontoblast like cells

Question 29

what are false pulp stones?

Answer 29

calcified fibrous tissue