Changes in the radicular pulp-dentine complex in healthy intact teeth and in response to deep caries or restorations: a histological and histobacteriological study

Conclusion When challenged by bacteria and bacterial by-products invading dentinal tubules, odontoblasts in the radicular pulp may undergo cell death, possibly by apoptosis. This phenomenon may be caused by progressive root-ward diffusion of bacterial by-products, cytokines or reactive oxygen species through the pulp connective tissue. Clinical Significance Although the vitality of the dental pulp in teeth with deep dentinal caries may be maintained with direct pulp capping or pulpotomy, the repair tissue that is formed resembles mineralised fibrous connective tissues more than true tubular dentine.
Source: Journal of Dentistry - Category: Dentistry Source Type: research