Dental Pulp Anatomy

The dental pulp consists of the coronal pulp (present in the crown as pulp chamber & horns) and the radicular pulp (extending from the cervical region of the crown to the root apex). Additionally, it is continuous with the periapical tissue through the apical foramen, with an average size of 0.4 mm for maxillary teeth and 0.3 mm for mandibular teeth. Accessory root canals are also present, particularly in the apical third of the root.

The text refers to two zones of the pulp: the peripheral zone (odontogenic zone) and the central zone (pulp core).

The formation of accessory root canals is attributed to several factors. These include early degeneration of the epithelial root sheath of Hertwig before the differentiation of the odontoblasts, lack of complete union of the tongue-like projections of the epithelial diaphragm at the floor of the pulp chamber, and the occurrence in areas where the developing root encloses a large blood vessel, resulting in dentin formation around it.

The apical foramen serves as the point of continuity between the pulp organs and the periapical tissue. It allows for the exchange of nutrients, waste products, and immune cells between the dental pulp and the surrounding tissues.

Accessory canals in the radicular pulp play a role in providing additional pathways for the exchange of materials between the pulp and the periodontal ligament. They are particularly numerous in the apical third of the root.