Pulp Space Anatomy and Access Cavities
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Pulp Space Anatomy and Access Cavities Sumamry This lesson will help you to visualise where the root canal system is and will therefore aid your endodontic access. Key words¹ Orifice - the opening to the canal Overview It is essential to know the pulp space anatomy in order to achieve a high level of standard of endodontic treatment. Understanding access cavity design allows for conservative cavity preparation and prevents excessive tooth destruction. Magnification and enhanced illumination are extremely helpful during access cavity preparation and allow detailed examination of the pulp space. General pulp space anatomy The pulp space is split into two parts: Pulp chamber: within the crown ReviseDental.comThe outline follows the shape of the crown Root canal: within the root The outline follows the shape of the roots The canals have a similar tapering form to the roots Pulp space is surrounded by dentine Dentinal tubules make up 20-30% of the total volume of dentine² The concentration of tubules increase from the amelodentinal junction to the pulp Therefore the permeability of dentine is significantly larger closer to the pulp The tubules are an important reservoir for microorganisms and these microorganisms may persist even after root canal treatment Shape Since the roots tend to be broader buccolingually than they are mesiodistally, the pulp space is usually oval in cross-section Deposition of minerals With age, the pulp space becomes smaller, with an increase in deposition of fibrous and mineral components In response to irritation from caries, restorations or tooth wear, tertiary dentine is produced by odontoblasts. This causes the pulp space to become smaller and canal orifices difficult to locate The use of magnification and illumination will reveal the different colours of circumpulpal and tertiary dentine to aid access The pulp space is complex The root canals may divide and re-join Eight separate pulp space configurations were identified by Vertucci (1984)³ (See drawing below), however it is now known that even more categories also exist (Gulabivala). Diagrams to show eight separate pulp space configurations ReviseDental.com Apical foramina and constriction The foramina Is the opening at the apex of the root of a tooth Rarely opens at the exact anatomical or radiographic apex of the tooth The apical constriction Is where the canal constricts at the end, before emerging at the apical foramina, near the root end The apical constriction should ideally be used as the natural end point in root canal treatment, however in apical periodontitis cases, this has often been resorbed The integrity of the constriction should be maintained to avoid complications This position can be accurately located with an apex locator Drawing to demonstrate the location of apical foramen and apical constriction Accessory and lateral canals:³ Lateral canal are found anywhere along the length of the root and they tend to be at right angles to the main root canal Patent lateral canals are present in the coronal or middle third of 59% of molars Accessory canals usually branch off the main root canal somewhere in the apical region The presence of lateral canals in the furcation areas of molar teeth is well documented, andReviseDental.com their incidence is relatively high A total of 76% molars are reported to have openings in the furcation Variations in Pulp Space Variations are likely to occur and can include: Multiple roots e.g. mandibular first molar can present with three roots (a mandibular molar may have an additional disto-lingual root, known as radix entomolaris) Dens invaginatus Malformation where there is an infolding of enamel into dentine There is a deep pit into the pulp space which can be a route of infection into the pulp Dens evaginatus A protuberant cusp develops There is a high risk of this cusp fracturing creating a route for infection into the pulp Access Cavities Access cavities vary between each tooth You must ensure that you have detailed knowledge of each tooth and cavity morphology before cutting an access cavity As well as avoiding unnecessary removal of tooth tissue, you must ensure that caries removal is complete, all restorations removed to assess restorability and must ensure that the roof of the pulp chamber is completely removed It is important to ensure that you achieve straight line access in order to prevent complications and achieve the best preparation possible There have been a number of laws produced to guide clinicians with cutting access cavities and locating root canal orifices Krasner andReviseDental.com Rankow's Anatomic Laws:⁴ Anatomic laws relating to the pulp chamber: Law of centrality: the floor of the pulp chamber is always located in the centre of the tooth at the level of the CEJ Law of concentricity: the walls of the pulp chamber are always concentric to the external surface of the tooth at the level of the CEJ The diagram demonstrates the centrality of the pulp chamber and how the walls of the pulp chamber follow the pattern of the external wall whilst having the same central point ReviseDental.com Law of the CEJ: the CEJ is the most consistent, repeatable landmark for locating the position of the pulp chamber The diagram demonstrates how the distance from the external surface of the clinical crown to the wall of the pulp chamber is the same throughout the circumference of the tooth at the level of the CEJ Anatomic laws regarding the pulp chamber floor: Law of symmetry 1: except for maxillary molars, the orifices of the canals are equidistant from a line drawn in a mesial distal direction through the pulp-chamber floor The diagram demonstrates how the mesial canals are the same distance from the line drawn ReviseDental.com Law of symmetry 2: except for the maxillary molars, the orifices of the canals lie on a line perpendicular to a line drawn in a mesial-distal direction across the center of the floor of the pulp chamber The diagram demonstrates the the two lines drawn are perpendicular to each other Law of Colour Change: the colour of the pulp-chamber floor is always darker than the walls Law of orifice location 1: the orifices of the root canals are always located at the junction of the walls and the floor The diagram demonstrates the darker colour of the pulpal floor and the junction between the wall and the floor ReviseDental.com Law of orifice location 2: the orifices of the root canals are located at the angles in the floor- wall junction Law of orifice location 3: the orifices of the root canals are located at the terminus of the root developmental fusion lines The diagram shows the developmental fusion lines and demonstrates that the orifices are located at the angle of the floor-wall junction and at the end of the fusion lines ReviseDental.com Specific pulp space anatomy Average length and number of canals specific to each tooth:⁵ Maxillary teeth Maxillary tooth Average length (mm) Number of roots Number of canals Central incisor 22.5 1 1 Lateral incisor 22.0 1 1 Canine 26.5 1 1 1 (6%) First premolar 20.6 2-3 2 (95%) 3 (1%) 1 (75%) Second premolar 21.5 1-3 2 (24%) 3 (1%) 4 (93%) First molar 20.8 3 3 (7%) 4 (37%) Second molar 20.0 3 3 (63%) Third molar 17.0 1-3 Mandibular teeth Mandibular tooth Average length (mm) Number of roots Number of canals 1 (58%) Central incisor 20.7 1 2 (42%) 1 (58%) Lateral incisor 20.7 1-2 2 (42%) 1 (94%) Canine 25.6 1 2 (6%) 1 (73%) First premolar 21.6 1 2 (72%) 1 (85%) Second premolar 22.3 1 2 (15%) 3 (67%) First molar 21.0 2-3 ReviseDental.com4 (33%) 2 (13%) Second molar 19.8 2 3 (79%) 4 (8%) Third molar 18.5 1-2 Pulp space anatomy and access cavities specific to each tooth Maxillary teeth Maxillary Incisors: An abnormality is most likely to occur with maxillary lateral incisor and may present with:Dens invaginatus, germination or fusion Pulp Chambers The central incisors of young patients normally have three pulp horns The canals of lateral incisors are often curved distally/ palatally at the apex Root Canals Extremely rare to have more than one root or canal Oval shape in cross-section, only round near the apex Access cavities Triangular in shape, prepared from the palatal aspect An access cavity that is too small and close to the cingulum leads to Severe stresses on the instrument Instrument binding against the access cavity walls Risks of ledge formation apically The access cavity should extend far enough incisally without excess removal of tooth tissue Sometimes the incisal edge may be involved if access is to be adequate Once initial access has been carried out, the cervical constriction should be removed and the dentine lip adjacent to the pulp horns should be removed Maxillary Canines: Pulp Chamber Quite narrow The canals of canines may have a distal apical curvature Root Canal Oval shape in cross-section Circular in the apical third Access cavity Prepared from the palatal aspect, from the cingulum to the edge Narrow mesio-distally Maxillary Premolars PulpReviseDental.com Chambers Wide buccopalatally, narrow mesiodistally with two pulp horns Root Canals First premolars: Two canals within two roots Many configurations (described above) can be found Prevalence of lateral canals can be as high as 49%² Root canal orifices lie buccally and palatally Second premolars: One canal within one root Variation of configurations with the most prevalent being Types II and III (25%) and IV and VII (25%)² Ribbon shaped Access cavities Cut occlusally Wider buccolingually Maxillary Molars Pulp Chambers First molars: Four pulp horns Root Canals First molars: Usually