Neural elements in dental pulp and dentin. 1995

P N Nair
Institute of Oral Structural Biology, University of Zurich, Switzerland.

This article addresses the structural and quantitative aspects of human tooth innervation and briefly considers the functions and clinical relevance of tooth axons. The classification of peripheral axons, the pulpal and dentinal innervation, and the theories of dentin sensitivity are discussed. Quantitative studies on tooth innervation are also reviewed. Human premolars receive about 2300 axons at the root-apex of which about 13% are myelinated and 87% are nonmyelinated fibers. Most apical myelinated axons are fast-conducting A delta-fibers with their receptive fields located at the pulpal periphery and inner dentin. These fibers are probably activated by a hydrodynamic mechanism and conduct impulses that are perceived as a short well-localized sharp pain. Most C-fibers are slow-conducting fine sensory afferents with their receptive fields located in the pulp and transmit impulses that are experienced as dull poorly localized and lingering pain. In addition to the nociceptive alarm signaling, the intradental sensory axons may play a regulatory role in the maintenance and repair of the pulpodentinal complex.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008854 Microscopy, Electron Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen. Electron Microscopy
D009412 Nerve Fibers Slender processes of NEURONS, including the AXONS and their glial envelopes (MYELIN SHEATH). Nerve fibers conduct nerve impulses to and from the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. Cerebellar Mossy Fibers,Mossy Fibers, Cerebellar,Cerebellar Mossy Fiber,Mossy Fiber, Cerebellar,Nerve Fiber
D009475 Neurons, Afferent Neurons which conduct NERVE IMPULSES to the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. Afferent Neurons,Afferent Neuron,Neuron, Afferent
D009619 Nociceptors Peripheral AFFERENT NEURONS which are sensitive to injuries or pain, usually caused by extreme thermal exposures, mechanical forces, or other noxious stimuli. Their cell bodies reside in the DORSAL ROOT GANGLIA. Their peripheral terminals (NERVE ENDINGS) innervate target tissues and transduce noxious stimuli via axons to the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. Pain Receptors,Receptors, Pain,Nociceptive Neurons,Neuron, Nociceptive,Neurons, Nociceptive,Nociceptive Neuron,Nociceptor,Pain Receptor
D003782 Dental Pulp A richly vascularized and innervated connective tissue of mesodermal origin, contained in the central cavity of a tooth and delimited by the dentin, and having formative, nutritive, sensory, and protective functions. (Jablonski, Dictionary of Dentistry, 1992) Dental Pulps,Pulp, Dental,Pulps, Dental
D003804 Dentin The hard portion of the tooth surrounding the pulp, covered by enamel on the crown and cementum on the root, which is harder and denser than bone but softer than enamel, and is thus readily abraded when left unprotected. (From Jablonski, Dictionary of Dentistry, 1992) Dentine,Dentines,Dentins
D003807 Dentin Sensitivity Pain associated with exposed DENTIN surfaces of the teeth. Dentin Hypersensitivity,Dentine Hypersensitivity,Dentine Sensitivity,Tooth Sensitivity,Dentin Hypersensitivities,Dentin Sensitivities,Dentine Hypersensitivities,Dentine Sensitivities,Hypersensitivities, Dentin,Hypersensitivities, Dentine,Hypersensitivity, Dentin,Hypersensitivity, Dentine,Sensitivities, Dentin,Sensitivities, Dentine,Sensitivities, Tooth,Sensitivity, Dentin,Sensitivity, Dentine,Sensitivity, Tooth,Tooth Sensitivities
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D006874 Hydrostatic Pressure The pressure due to the weight of fluid. Hydrostatic Pressures,Pressure, Hydrostatic,Pressures, Hydrostatic
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia

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