Abstract

Background: Endodontic pain reflects altered signaling in pulpal and periapical afferents. However, conventional diagnostic categories do not fully explain differences in pain quality, persistence, localization, or anesthetic response. Ion channels link inflammatory tissue changes to Aδ- and C-fiber activity.

Objective: To synthesize how stimulus-gated and voltage-gated ion channels regulate Aδ- and C-fiber signaling in pulpal inflammation, apical disease, and pain following endodontic treatment.

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