Australian Dental Council (ADC) Practice Test 2026 - Free ADC Practice Questions and Study Guide

The formation of reparative dentine at the pulpal surface corresponding to the area of irritation is a key response of healthy dental pulps to injury. When the dental pulp experiences trauma or irritation, it can stimulate odontoblasts, the cells responsible for dentine formation, to generate a new layer of dentine, known as reparative dentine. This layer serves to protect the pulp from further injury and biomechanical stresses while also sealing off areas of potential infection. This regenerative process is crucial for maintaining the health of the pulp and, consequently, the overall vitality of the tooth.

In contrast to the correct answer, other responses like increased vascularity in the pulp chamber, formation of granulation tissue, and absorption of bacteria do occur in response to injury but are not the primary or defining response of healthy pulps. Increased vascularity may indicate inflammation, but it does not directly contribute to the pulp's reparative processes. The formation of granulation tissue suggests a pathological healing response typical of chronic inflammation rather than a healthy reparative procedure. Absorption of bacteria is a potential outcome of various immune responses, but it is not a specific reaction that denotes a healthy pulp's response to injury. Understanding these distinctions is integral to recognizing how dental pulp behaves in health