Modifications of dental pulp according on age

Abstract

Introduction: The pulp is a sensitive and richly vascularized tissue which occupies the central cavity, consisting from the chamber, the coronal part and pulp canals, in the teeth roots. The pulp has the defense, nutrition and innervation function. During the life, pulp suffers some modifications which requires the therapeutic approach attention in old patiens. Material and methods: Includes accurate and verifiable facts, selected from literature. Results: According to the study were observed a number of morphological changes. Besides the reduction in volume, the structural changes in the dental pulp in old patients have been revealed. Emphasized was observed the crossing from richly vascularized and innervated tissue to one with a very poor vascularization and innervation , which was reflected in its accomplished functions. Essentially , aging pulp is similar with aging of connective tissue that leads to sclerosis and progressive atrophy , nutrition and defense loss role. Fibroblasts are transformed in fibrocytes , cells have less cytoplasm and fewer organelles and cytoplasmic extensions. Fibrocytes number progressively decrease according to the age. At odontoblasts level have been determinate the numerical reduction, dystrophic changes occurrence and interruption of "palisade" . Cells decreases their volume , the nucleus becomes small, compact and intercellular space increases. Decrease the cell number increases and collagen fibers increases. Conclusions: Ageing dental pulp represents a complex physiological process, which concerns all the structural components, depending on the tooth is exposed during life. Elderly tooth pulp has a slow metabolic activity, a defense potential and reduced repair power. It is difficult to strictly delimit the pulp changes determination of aging and those which are induced by external factors. In this way partial loss of pulp activity will be taken into consideration during the dental treatment and it requires great caution in the tooth vital prognosis establishment