Pulp reaction to anorganic bovine dentin

Abstract

A study was made to determine if heterogenous dentin, devoid of its antigenic potential, would stimulate reparative dentino-genesis in the dental pulp. The teeth of two monkeys were capped with bovine dentin mixed with methyl cellulose and histologic analysis was made at 21 and 42 days post-operatively. At the 21-day interval, seven of the 17 teeth capped with the experimental material were successfully repaired with atubular dentin. The remaining 10 teeth showed varying degrees of inflammation and repair. The teeth of the second animal (42 days) were stained for bacteria as an additional diagnostic tool. A direct correlation was found between delayed healing and inflammation and presence of bacteria in the pulp. No bacteria were found in pulps which were successfully repaired. It was concluded that anorganic bovine dentin seemed to induce calcific repair of the dental pulp in the absence of bacteria. Autogenous dentin chips appeared to have the same effect. The importance of including a bacteriologic stain in the histologic analysis of pulp capping studies was demonstrated.