Dental pulp it’s physiology and histology

1. DENTAL PULP
Turgut Novruzlu
Vinnitsa Medical University, Ukraine
2019

2. What is Pulp?
■Pulp is a soft mesenchymal CT that
occupies pulp cavity in the central part
of the teeth
■It is a special organ, due to its unique
environment

3. What are the parts of Pulp?

4. CORONAL PULP
■ Coronal – occupies the pulp chamber of the crown of the
tooth, it has 6 surfaces, it has horns that correspond to cusp
projections.This part of pulp constricts at the CERVICAL
region, where the radicular pulp continues.
■ It has the largest mass of the pulp. It’s size directly depends
on the size and and shape of the tooth.

5. RADICULAR
■ Radicular- occupies the PULP CANALS of the root of
the tooth.This part is continuous with the periapical
tissues through apical formanen. By age radicular
pulp age decreases and this part might become the
apical foramen itself.

6. APICAL FORAMEN
■ Pulp cavity terminates at the Root apex
as small opening called apical foramen.
■ Radicular continuous with CT of the
PERIODONTIUM through this foramen
■ Diameter in adult- Maxillary teeth – 0.4
mm , Mandibular teeth- 0.4 mm
■ During developmental periods it is open
wide.
■ There may be 2-3 foramina split by
cementum or dentin, so calledAPICAL
DELTA

7. What are Anatomical and Radiographic
apex ?
■ Radiographic apex- It is the HIGHEST POINT
or tip of the root that is seen on the x-ray
■ AnatomicApex- Point where the
NEUROVASCULAR BUNDLE enters the root
apex
■ Constriction-The narrows point of the canal-
usually located within 2mm of the anatomic
apex.

10. What happens hen GP extents the ANATOMICAPEX
and enters to Radiographic apex?

12. What does the pulp contain?
■Pulp cavity has CELLULAR,
FIBROUS, NEURAL andVASCULAR
components.

13. What is the main function of the pulp?
■ The main function of the pulp is production and maintanence of the DENTIN.
■ INDUCTIVE- induces Epithelial differention
■ FORMATIVE- involved in primary and secondary dentin formation
■ PROTECTIVE- viality of dentin by providingO2 and nutrients to odontoblasts
■ DEFENSIVE- recognition of chemical, thermal and mechanical stimuli by nerve fibres.
Vasomator inntervation controls the blood volume rate and hence, interpulpal
pressure
■ NUTRITIVE-

14. Nerve plexus of Raschkow
■ Sensory nerve fibres that originate from INFERIOR and
SUPERIORALVEOLAR nerves innervate the ODONTOBLASTIC
layer of the pulp cavity.
■ These nerves enter the tooth through the APICAL FORAMEN as
MYELINATED NERVE BUNDLES
■ These nerve buncles form the SUBODONTOBLASTIC NERVE
PLEXUS of RASCHKOW
■ In addition to the sensory nerves, SYMPHATETHIC NERVE
BUNDLES also enter to tooth in order to INNERVATE BLOOD
VESSELS

15. How well vascularised is the Pulp?
■ The pulp cavity receives blood from oneARTERY that enters the
apical forman and coursed directly to the CORONAL PULP
■ Within the coronal pulp, numerous arterial branches form a
INTERCONNECTED NETWORK of blood vessels.
■ The smallest capillaries LOOP around SUBODONTOBLASTIC
ZONE.

16. Capillary network is organised in 3 layers
■ I-Terminal Capillary network- in odontoblastic layer
■ II- Capilary network next to odontoblastic layer/ consists of pre and post capillary
vessels
■ Venular network of vessels
■ As the people age, their metabolism decrease and these 3 layers appear as 1 ( it
sounded like I am an alien and I am talking about it to my alien friends lol)

17. Lymphatics
■ Lymph vessels are formed from a fine meshwork of small, thin walled lymph
capillaries
■ They coalesce to form larger lymphatic vessels with valves
■ They start as blind openings nearWeil’s zone (in odontoblastic layer)
■ Larger Lymphatic vessels run along the vessels/nerves

18. Which other structures does the Pulp
have?
■ It containsArterioles, small nerve bundles and
fibroblasts.

19. Subodontoblastic region
■ Below the odontoblastic layer, there is the CELL-FREEZONE ofWEIL
■ After this cell free zone, pulp also contains a CELL – RICH zone which thought to
provide replacement for cells for odontoblasts that die. High mitotic activity.
■ Within the these zones are the nerve plexus of Raschkow and capillary network

20. Pulp Core
■ It is most central region of the
pulp
■ Contains major blood vessels
and nerve of the pulp
■ Pulpal cells and fibroblasts can
be seen as well

21. What are the Odontoblasts?
■ These are the cells that
are responsible for
forming DENTINE and
PREDENTINE it
initially secretes a
COLLAGENOUS
MATRIX then
subsequently
mineralized
■

22. Defensive cells of Pulp
■ Histocytes orTissue macrophages
■ In light microscope these cells
appear irregular in shape with short
blunt processes.
■ Their nuclei are small, rounded.
These cells are usually within small
blood vessels and capillaries

23. What happens in case of an
Inflammation
■ In case of inflammation
granules and vaculoues are
exhibited from their cytoplasm
■ Plasma cells- have small
concentric nuclei, their
chrmatins are arranged as in a
car wheel appearance.
■ They produce AntiBodies
■ Lymphocytes and Eosinophils
inside pulp cavity increase in
number during inflammation
too

24. Which collagen fibres are in Pulp?
■ Type I- Present as thick striated fibrils, responsible for pulp architecture
■ Type III -Thinner, mainly in cell free and cell rich zones and give ELASTICITY of the
pulp
■ TYPE IV- they rest in basement membrane of blood vessels
■ TypeV andVI- seen to form dense meshwork of thin microfibrils in stroma