Innervation of the Teeth

Noble, Henry W (1962) Innervation of the Teeth. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

The combination of methods described in the thesis to demonstrate the nerves of the dental pulp gave rapid and consistent results which were superior to those obtained by previously described processes. In the author's experience, the great stumbling-block to the successful demonstration of pulpal nerves was the harmful effect of the acid used to decalcify the dentine. The ability of chelating agents to perform at neutral or alkaline pH suggested that the tooth might be decalcified without harm to the staining affinities of the pulpal nerves. The selection of an alkaline pH actually improved the selectivity of the silver method employed and was later discovered to be based upon an accepted method of improving silver impregnation. The success of the methods adopted permitted the observation of the pattern of distribution of the nerve fibres in a large number of permanent teeth from patients of all age groups. The author was able to demonstrate that nerve fibres were present in the odontoblast layer and in the predentine zone of uncalcified dentine matrix. The affinity of the inner border of the calcified dentine for the silver stain prevented the fine terminal nerve fibres from being easily followed beyond this layer. There was, however, ample evidence in support of the belief that nerve fibres did extend into the layers of calcified dentine. It is believed that the majority were calcified within the intertubular matrix. An occasional nerve fibre may have been enclosed beside the dentinal process of an odontoblast and, by virtue of its intra-tubular position, may have escaped the wave of calcification which passes through the intertubular matrix. The attempt which was made to demonstrate the presence of nerve fibres in the dentine matrix by means of the electron microscope was unsuccessful. Nevertheless the author still believes that it will be possible to demonstrate silver impregnated nerve fibres within the predentine zone and so prove conclusively the relationship between the nerve fibres and the collagen fibres of the dereine matrix. He also believes that the question of the presence of fine intratubular nerve fibres (described as being 0.2mu in diameter) within the calcified dentine matrix will only be satisfactorily proved or disproved by evidence from the electron microscope. In the numerous electron micrographs of the dentinal tubules in cross-section from areas where fine intratubular fibres have been described, the author was unable to observe any appearance which might confirm their existence.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Keywords: Dentistry
• Date of Award: 1962
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:1962-79420
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 05 Mar 2020 09:59
• Last Modified: 05 Mar 2020 09:59
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/79420