Interdental branches are branches of the superior dental plexus that provide sensory innervation to which structure?

• A. PDL of adjacent teeth through the alveolar bone
• B. Pulp of the tooth
• C. Cementum
• D. Buccal mucosa

Answer: (A)

Interdental branches come from the superior dental plexus and run through the interdental septa into the alveolar bone to reach the periodontal ligament of the teeth on either side of a contact area. Their main role is to provide sensory innervation to the periodontal ligament of adjacent teeth, which is the tissue between the tooth and the bone that senses pressure and pain during chewing. The pulp, by contrast, gets its nerves primarily through pathways that enter at the root apex, not via these interdental channels. Cementum and buccal mucosa are served by other nerve routes, not the interdental branches feeding the PDL. So, these interdental branches specifically supply the PDL of adjacent teeth through the alveolar bone.