Interstitial fluid pressure in normal and inflamed pulp

Tissue pressure is the hydrostatic pressure in the interstitial fluid which surrounds the pulpal cells. This pressure outside the vessels is normally considerably lower than the blood pressure inside the vessels. The dental pulp has a relatively low interstitial compliance due to its enclosure betwe...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Critical reviews in oral biology and medicine 1999, Vol.10 (3), p.328-336
Main Authors: Heyeraas, K J, Berggreen, E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Absorption
Blood Pressure - physiology
Blood Volume - physiology
Capillaries - physiology
Dental Pulp - blood supply
Dental Pulp - cytology
Dental Pulp - physiology
Dental Pulp Necrosis - etiology
Dentin - anatomy & histology
Dentistry
Extracellular Space - physiology
Humans
Hydrostatic Pressure
Ischemia - etiology
Lymph - physiology
Pressure
Pulpitis - pathology
Pulpitis - physiopathology
Regional Blood Flow - physiology
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Summary:Tissue pressure is the hydrostatic pressure in the interstitial fluid which surrounds the pulpal cells. This pressure outside the vessels is normally considerably lower than the blood pressure inside the vessels. The dental pulp has a relatively low interstitial compliance due to its enclosure between rigid dentin walls. Accordingly, even a modest increase in pulpal fluid volume will raise the tissue pressure, which may compress blood vessels, leading to ischemia and necrosis. Inflammation may lead to an increase in both interstitial fluid volume and blood volume in the low-compliant pulp and thereby increase the tissue pressure. However, the increased tissue pressure may, in turn, initiate increased lymph flow and absorption of fluid into capillaries in nearby non-inflamed tissue. Both of these latter factors will transport fluid out of the affected area and subsequently out of the tooth and consequently lower the tissue pressure. Increased tissue pressure, whether caused by increased blood volume or increased capillary filtration, will promote outward flow of fluid through exposed dentin tubules and thereby help to protect the pulp against entry of harmful substances. It seems physiologically beneficial, therefore, for the pulp to have a high tissue pressure, which promptly increases when blood flow increases due to its low compliance.
ISSN:1045-4411
1544-1113
DOI:10.1177/10454411990100030501