Nerve ending in dental pulp

Nerve endings in dental pulp are sensory and autonomic nerve fibers that terminate within the dental pulp, a connective tissue inside teeth. These endings arise primarily from the trigeminal nerve, with both myelinated (Aδ and some Aβ) and unmyelinated (C) fibers present. The majority act as **nociceptors**, transducing painful stimuli from thermal, mechanical, and inflammatory sources. The most prominent network is the **plexus of Raschkow**, where myelinated sensory fibers lose their myelin to form free nerve endings, which either form a dense network adjacent to odontoblasts or extend into dentinal tubules[1][3][4]. These nerve endings express a variety of **neuropeptides** (e.g., CGRP, substance P), **ion channels** (e.g., TRPV1), and other markers, participating in pain signaling, inflammatory responses, local blood flow control, and potentially dental tissue repair[4][5][8]. Direct pharmacological targeting is challenging, as nerve endings consist of heterogeneous populations and are not a molecular target themselves[4]. Thus, "nerve endings in dental pulp" describes a functional anatomical structure, **not a single druggable molecular entity**; specific molecular targets (e.g., TRPV1, CGRP) may be found on subpopulations of these endings.

Other names

Dental pulp nerve endingDental pulp sensory neuronIntradental nerve endingPulpal sensory fiberPulpal nerve endingNerve fiber in dental pulp

Blockade of voltage-gated sodium channels (local anesthetics—prevent action potential generation)[1][3] Modulation or desensitization of TRP channels (e.g., capsaicin for TRPV1-expressing fibers, experimental)[4]