Dental sensory nerve fiber

Dental sensory nerve fibers are the primary afferent neurons that provide sensory innervation to the teeth, specifically the dental pulp and the dentin-pulp complex [1]. These fibers are predominantly branches of the trigeminal nerve and are classified into myelinated A-delta fibers, which mediate sharp, localized pain, and unmyelinated C-fibers, which mediate dull, aching pain [3]. Their primary biological function is nociception, acting as a defense mechanism to alert the individual to dental injury or infection, such as dental caries or pulpitis [1]. In clinical practice, these fibers are the primary site of action for local anesthetics like lidocaine, which inhibit voltage-gated sodium channels to prevent the transmission of pain signals during dental procedures [2][4]. Pathological states like dentin hypersensitivity or symptomatic irreversible pulpitis involve the sensitization of these fibers through the upregulation of receptors like TRPV1 and specific sodium channel isoforms [3].

Other names

Pulpal nerve fibersIntradental nervesDental afferent fibersTrigeminal dental branches

Blockade of voltage-gated sodium channels (Nav) to inhibit action potential initiation and conduction along the nerve axon [2][4].