Dental pulp
Pulpa dentis
Also known as: pulp, nerve of the tooth
The dental pulp is the soft connective-tissue core of the tooth. It contains odontoblasts, vessels and nerves and fills the pulp chamber and root canals.
Overview
The pulp is loose, gelatinous connective tissue derived from the dental papilla. At its periphery is a layer of odontoblasts. Deeper are a cell-free and a cell-rich zone of fibroblasts and undifferentiated mesenchymal cells, and a central core of arterioles, venules, lymphatics and nerve bundles. These enter and leave through the apical foramen at the tip of each root. Most of the nerve fibres are Aδ and C nociceptors.
Because the pulp is enclosed in rigid dentin, inflammation raises the pressure inside it, compresses the venous outflow and can strangle the tooth's own blood supply. This is why an inflamed pulp is so painful and why it can die (necrosis).
- Location
Pulp chamber in the crown, continuous with the root canals in each root.
Anatomy
- Innervation
Superior or inferior alveolar nerves (V2 or V3), with sympathetic vasomotor fibres alongside.
- Arterial supply
Pulpal arterioles from the alveolar arteries, entering through the apical foramen.
Function
- Formative: odontoblasts produce dentin throughout life.
- Nutritive: supplies the odontoblasts and dentin.
- Sensory: perceives pain.
- Defensive: lays down reparative dentin and mounts an inflammatory response.
Clinical significance
Pulpitis and root canal treatment
Reversible pulpitis causes short, sharp pain with stimuli. Irreversible pulpitis causes lingering, spontaneous, poorly localised pain and progresses to necrosis and a periapical abscess. Root canal (endodontic) treatment removes the pulp and seals the canals.
Compiled from standard anatomy and physiology references — see the Digestive System sources. For education only; not medical advice.