Periodontal disease, age, and pulp status

The effect of chronic periodontitis on dental pulp: A clinical and histopathological study

“…The presence of surrounding odontoblast indicated that such structures were dentin. [13] The vessels varied in diameter. Dilated pulpal vessels were commonly seen, although in other teeth intact vessels and atrophic changes were also seen.…”

“…Periodontal lesion routinely produced atrophic and degenerative changes in the pulp of involved teeth due to interference of nutritional supply. [13] Many pulp stones in several human cases of periodontal disease were found by Grajewska. [15] Nemec et al showed that findings related to periodontally affected teeth included acute and chronic pulpitis, vascular congestion and pulp necrosis.…”

Influence of moderate to severe chronic periodontitis on dental pulp

“…However, studies indicate that the amount of collagen does not increase perceptibly in the radicular pulp after the age of 39 years. [9] Furthermore, age is not consistently linked to pulpal calcification,[10] and pulpal changes found in older patients are not further advanced or more severe than those seen in young patients. [11] Thus, age per se cannot be regarded as the causative factor for the observed pulpal changes.…”

“…Rubach WC and Mitchell DF observed that the vessels were filled with erythrocytes and white blood cells in an apparently normal ratio. [10] Despite the observed vessel dilatation, nonedematous pulp was seen in most teeth. Ekblom and Hansson (1984) showed that fenestrated capillaries were most frequently observed in the odontoblastic region.…”

“…If a denticle or the surface of secondary dentine was positioned in such a way that the knife edge caught only the neighboring odontoblasts, then the teeth would appear inflamed. [10]…”