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Dentistry vocabulary · Teeth and Oral Anatomy

Pulp

Meaning in dentistry, with examples

/pʌlp/nounCore term

In dentistry, pulp means: The soft tissue in the center of a tooth that contains nerves and blood vessels. It fills the pulp chamber in the crown and the canals in the roots.

In Turkish: pulpa, diş özü

How it is used

Central to root canal work. Dentists talk about pulp exposure, inflamed or necrotic pulp, pulp capping and pulp testing. Patients usually call it 'the nerve'.

Example sentences

  1. The cavity is very deep, and there's a risk of pulp exposure.

  2. The pulp was necrotic, so we started root canal treatment.

Common collocations

  • pulp chamber
  • pulp exposure
  • necrotic pulp
  • pulp capping
  • inflamed pulp
  • pulpitisInflammation of the pulp inside a tooth, usually caused by deep decay, cracks or repeated dental work. It ranges from mild and reversible to severe and irreversible.
  • root canal treatmentTreatment that removes inflamed or infected pulp from inside a tooth, then cleans, shapes and seals the root canals so that the tooth can be kept.
  • dentinThe yellowish tissue that forms most of a tooth, lying under the enamel and around the pulp. It contains tiny tubes, so it can feel pain when it is exposed.
  • vitality testA test that checks whether the nerve of a tooth still responds, usually by applying cold or a small electric current. It helps show whether the pulp is healthy, inflamed or dead.

More terms: Teeth and Oral Anatomy

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.