Histopathological evaluation of the dental pulps in crown-fractured teeth.

Trauma is a common cause of pulpal damage. In traumatic injuries, the first priority is to protect the vitality of pulps. But the time between the trauma and treatment must be short to preserve vital, noninflamed pulps. The aim of this study was to investigate the histopathological changes in pulpal tissues at different time periods after crown fractures. Twenty-three teeth with enamel and dentin fractures, with and without pulp exposure were evaluated. The reasons for seeking dental treatment were aesthetic consideration, pain, or discomfort. The extirpated pulps were histologically prepared for microscopical evaluation. There was myelin degeneration surrounding the axons and edema in the early posttraumatic stages (17 h). In the later stages (4 to 20 days), the tissues showed varying degrees of inflammation, and neuronal degeneration such as intramyelin edema, aberrant myelin synthesis, and axonal swelling.