Quick Facts
The superior and inferior alveolar nerves supply the maxillary and mandibular teeth, respectively.
Anatomical Relations
The inferior alveolar nerve, a branch of the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve, follows the same pattern of branching as the inferior alveolar artery. The branches of the inferior alveolar nerve that travel through the root canal are known as pulp sensory nerves.
These pulpal sensory nerves subsequently branch into the subodontoblastic plexus in the pulp cavity. Additionally, unmyelinated postganglionic sympathetic fibers (vasoconstrictors) from the superior cervical ganglion enter the pulp and innervate arterioles that have arisen from the inferior alveolar artery (Standring, 2016).
Function
Alveolar nerves are responsible for supplying sensation to the teeth.
References
Standring, S. (2016) Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. Gray's Anatomy Series 41 edn.: Elsevier Limited.
