Chicago Family Dentist

The pulp is one of the 4 major components of the tooth. The other three are the cementum, dentin, and enamel. Pulp is the living soft tissue that is in the center of the tooth. The living soft tissues are joined by cells called odontoblasts.

Odontoblasts create dentin. Dentin is the structure that surrounds the pulp and gives enamel strength and structure. Odontoblasts are large cells that are arranged in a sheet that exists from just below the dentin all the way down to the root apex.

The crown portion of the tooth contains coronal pulp. This is made up of six surfaces: occlusal, mesial, distal, buccal, lingual, and floor. Because dentin is being deposited continuously by the odontoblasts, the total area of pulp in the teeth becomes smaller with age. The loss of pulp is not uniform throughout the pulp but actually is lost faster along the floor of the crown than on the roof or side walls.

There is also radicular pulp. Radicular pulp extends from the cervical region of the crown to the apex of the root. This is not always straight but varies in shape, size, and number. The radicular and coronal pulp areas of the tooth have extensive blood supplies.

The canals that help the dentin and enamel survive also run through the pulp. These accessory canals are pathways from the radicular pulp that extend laterally through the dentin to the periodontal (gum) tissue.

For more information on the composition of the teeth or to schedule a dental cleaning, contact Chicago family dentist Dr. Sumeet Bagai at 773-767-1554.