Pulp Cavities Dental Anatomy

Lec. 16 Dr. Ghassan Ali

Pulp cavitiesThe dental pulp is the soft tissue of the tooth. The pulp occupies the

internal cavities or spaces of the tooth which includes the pulp camber

and the pulp canal (root canal).

The shape of the pulp cavities correspond to the external outline form of

the tooth (the shape of the pulp chamber corresponds to the shape of the

crown whereas the shape of the pulp canal corresponds to the shape of the

roots).

The size of the pulp cavity depends on the age of the tooth and the history

of trauma.

At the apical end of the root there is an opening, through which the

neurovascular bundle enters the pulp, called apical foramen.

Pulp horns are projections or prolongations of the pulp in the roof of the

pulp chamber that corresponds to the major cusps or lobes of the crown.

Pulp cavities of the maxillary teeth:Max. central incisor: The pulp chamber is very narrow labiolingually and wide mesiodistally.

In cross section, the pulp chamber is triangular in outline with the base of

the triangle at the labial aspect.

Max. lateral incisor:Pulp chamber anatomy is similar to that of central. In cross section, it

may be triangular, oval or rounded.

Max. canine:Pulp chamber is narrower mesiodistally than labiolingually. In cross

section, the shape of the pulp space is oval.

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Pulp Cavities Dental Anatomy

Max. first premolar:It has two canals usually but may have one canal. The pulp chamber is

kidney shape in cross section.

Max. second premolar:It has one canal usually but may have two canals. The pulp chamber is

oval shape in cross section.

Max. first molar: It has three canals (mesiobuccal, distobuccal and palatal). The pulp

chamber is rhomboidal shape in cross section.

Max. second molar:It has three canals (mesiobuccal, distobuccal and palatal). Pulp chamber

anatomy is similar to that of max. first molar but the chamber is much

smaller in mesiodistal section.

Pulp cavities of mand. Teeth:Mand. Central incisor:It has one canal usually but it may have two canals. The pulp cavity is

narrow mesiodistally and wide labiolingually. In cross section the pulp

chamber may be round, oval or elliptical in shape.

Mand. Lateral incisor:Similar to the central but larger in size.

Mand. Canine:The pulp cavity is similar in size and shape to that of max. canine but

tends to be a little shorter. In cross section, it is oval in shape.

Mand. First premolar:This tooth mostly has one canal, but two canals are possible. The pulp

horn of the buccal cusp is prominent but that of the lingual cusp is usually

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Pulp Cavities Dental Anatomy

small or completely absent. In cross section, the pulp cavity may be round

or elliptical.

Mand. Second premolar:It mostly has one canal. The pulp horns are more prominent than first

premolar. In cross section, the pulp cavity may be rectangular or oval.

Mand. First molar:This tooth has usually three canals; the mesial root has two canals while

the distal root has one large canal and sometimes has two small canals. In

cross section the pulp chamber is quadrilateral in shape.

Mand. Second molar:Similar to that of mand. First molar.

ملحقة ملزمة في الرسوماتOcclusion:Occlusion refers to any contact relationship between maxillary and

mandibular teeth during function.

The arch form of maxilla tends to be larger than that of mandible, this

results in the maxillary teeth overhanging the mandibular teeth when the

teeth are in centric occlusion (the position of maximal intercuspation).

During the maximum intercuspation, the mesiolingual cusp of the

maxillary molars occludes with the central fossa of the mandibular

molars.

Occlusion in deciduous teeth

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Pulp Cavities Dental Anatomy

Each tooth occludes with two teeth of the apposing jaw except

mandibular central incisor and maxillary second molar.

Occlusion in permanent teethWith the exception of mandibular incisors and maxillary third molars,

each tooth contacts two antagonist teeth in the apposing arch.

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