The branch of dentistry concerned with the morphology, physiology and pathology of the human dental pulp and

periradicular tissues. Its study and practice encompass the basic and clinical sciences including the biology of the normal pulp and the etiology, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases and injuries of the pulp and associated periradicular conditions.

Differential diagnosis and treatment of oral pains of pulpal and/or periapical origin. Vital pulp therapy such as pulp capping and pulpotomy. Nonsurgical treatment of root canal systems. Selective surgical removal of pathological tissues resulting from pulpal pathosis Surgical removal of tooth structure such as in root-end resection, bicuspidization, hemisection and root resection.

Intentional replantation and replantation of avulsed teeth. Bleaching of discolored dentin and enamel. Retreatment of teeth previously treated endodontically. Treatment procedures related to coronal restorations by means of post and/or cores.

AAE glossary of terms

Endodontics, 5th Ed. J. I. Ingle and L. K. Backland, 2002 Chapter 2 pg no. 25- 55

pulp is a soft tissue of mesenchymal origin residing within the pulp chamber and root canal of teeth-cohen

pulp in many ways is similar to other connective tissue of the body Unique features Closed chamber No regeneration

Formative: the pulp involve in the support, maintenance and continued formation of dentin Nutrition: Nutrients exchange across the capillaries into the interstitial fluid ,which inturn travel into dentin through network of tubules. Sensory: Innervation of the pulp and dentin is linked by the fluid & its movementbetween dentinal tubules & peripheral receptors Defensive: triggering of inflammatory and immune response. Development and formation of secondary and tertiary dentin which increase the coverage of the pulp

The terminology PULP SPACE is more appropriate than root canal.

Pulp space The entire internal space of a tooth which contains the pulp. It consists of the following entities. Pulp canal Pulp chamber Pulp horn
Pulp horn Pulp chamber

Pulp canals

Apical foramen

Pulp Horn A pulp horn is an accentuation of the pulp chamber directly under a cusp or a developmental lobe. The term offers more commonly to prolongation of the pulp itself directly. The mesial pulp horns are usually higher than the distal pulp horns.
Pulp horn

Roof

Pulp horn

Pulp chamber
Furcation canals

Floor

Lateral canals

Apical foramen

Roof of the pulp chamber The roof consists of dentin covering the pulp chamber occlusally or incisally. Floor of the chamber. The floor of the pulp chamber runs parallel to the root and consists of dentin bordering the pulp chamber near the cervix of the tooth particularly dentin in the furcation area.
Roof

Floor

Pulp canal / root canal It will be appropriate to refer to as pulp canal . A straight pulp canal extending the length of the root is uncommon. All the pulp canal are curved, but the degree varies from sharp curvatures to gradual curvatures.

Canal orifices The canal orifices are openings in the floor of the pulp chamber leading into the pulp canal.

Lateral canals Canal that is located approximately right angles to that of the main canal extending from the main canal to the periodontal ligament, more frequently in the body of the root than in the base

Lateral canals Apical foramen

Periodontal vessels curve around the root apex of a developing tooth and often become entraped in the Hertwigs Epithelial root sheath resulting in the formation of lateral and accessory canals.

Accessory canal Is one that branches off from the main root canal usually somewhere in the apical region of the root.

Anatomical Apex: It is the most tapered portion of the root

Apical Foramen: (Major

diameter)
It is the terminal end of the pulp space by which it

communicates

with

the

periapical region.

(Should

not be confused with other

ramifications

such

as

accessory and lateral canals)

Apical constriction: (Minor

diameter)
Narrowest portion at the terminal end of the pulp

space.
foramen

It is approximately
and is said to

0.5 mm. short of the apical

coincide with the cemento

dentinal junction.

Delta Delta formation describes the primary or secondary canal that terminates short of the apex with lateral canals fanning out from this point to end of the root surface.

DELTA

In young persons the pulp horns are wide, apical foramina are broad and dentinal tubules are wide and regular with increase in age pulp horns recede and pulp chamber becomes smaller. Pulp space becomes smaller from deposition of secondary and reparative dentin. .

Odontoblasts layer

Pre dentin Cell rich zone Cell free zone

Pulp core

1)

Undifferentiated mesenchymal cells 2)Fibroblast 3)Odontoblasts 4)Defense cells Histiocytes or macrophages -Mast cells -Plasma cells -Blood vascular elements (neutrophils,lymphocytes,basophils ,monocytes)

Pathways of the Pulp, 9th edition, S. Cohen, and K. M. Hargreaves, 2006. Endodontics, 5th Ed. J. I. Ingle and L. K. Backland, 2002. Principles & Practice of Endodontics Walton & Torabinejad 3rd ed (2002)