Dental pulp represents a specialized connective tissue enclosed by dentin and enamel, the most highly mineralized tissues of the body. Consequently, the direct examination as well as pathological evaluation of dental pulp is difficult. Within this anatomical context, our study aimed to evaluate the correlation between dental pulp lesions and clinical diagnosis. Pulpectomies were performed for 54 patients with acute and chronic irreversible pulpitides and for 5 patients (control group) with orthodontic extractions. The morphological features were semiquantitatively assessed by specific score values. The clinical and morphological correspondence was noted for 35 cases (68.62%), whereas inconsistency was recorded for 16 cases (31.38%). The results of the statistical analysis revealed the correlations between clinically and pathologically diagnosed acute/chronic pulpitides. No significant differences were established between the score values for inflammatory infiltrate intensity, collagen depositions, calcifications and necrosis, and acute, respectively chronic pulpitides. We also obtained significant differences between acute pulpitides and inflammatory infiltrate and calcifications and between chronic pulpitides and inflammatory infiltrate, collagen deposition, and calcifications. On the basis of the predominant pathological aspects, namely, acute and chronic pulpitis, we consider that the classification schemes can be simplified by adequately reducing the number of clinical entities.

The study aimed to assess the number, localization and distribution of interleukin 6 (IL-6) positive cells in healthy pulp, acute and chronic pulpitis. The study group included 48 patients aged between 18-72, treated in University of Medicine and Pharmacy Grigore T. Popa Iasi, Romania. The pulpectomy was performed on 42 patients diagnosed with acute and chronic pulpitis. The other 6 patients, without signs of dental caries or periodontal disease, were submitted to extractions of teeth for orthodontic purposes, with pulpectomy performed before extraction. The pulp samples were examined with optic microscope. The detection and assessment of IL-6 were performed using immunohistochemical technique. Data were statistically analysed using non-parametric tests. According to morphopathological criteria, 42.85% were classified as acute pulpitis and 57.14% as chronic pulpitis. The pulp samples in control group were not associated with IL-6 positive cells. The analysis of all samples with acute and chronic pulpitis identified 73.80% samples with IL-6 and 26.20% associated with the absence of IL-6. The highest frequency of IL-6 positive cells was recorded in rich-cell zone of crown dental pulp. The systemic distribution of IL-6 positive cells was mostly diffused without well-defined orientation. IL-6 release in acute and chronic pulpitis is significantly higher comparing with healthy pulp tissue.