In vivo effect of calcium phosphate biomaterials on dog dental pulp

Exogenous ideal delivery system for biologically active molecules is under intensive investigation. In the present study it was aimed to test the availability of different calcium phosphate biomaterials (CPBs), hydroxyapatite (HA), beta tricalcium phosphate (TCP), and a combination of these (TCP+HA) as dental pulp capping systems on healing of dog dental pulp. Experimentally perforated dental pulps of 16 premolar and molar teeth in a beagle dog were capped with CPBs. Calcium hydroxide (CH) was used as positive control. Thirty days after the operation, teeth were extracted and examined by routine histological techniques. While in HA and TCP group the pulp tissue displayed severe inflammatory response, prompted healing of the pulp tissue in TCP+HA group was seen. Complete bridge of reparative dentin formation was obvious in TCP+HA and CH groups. This study suggested that TCP+HA induced dentinogenic effect in the pulp cells of dog teeth. TCP+HA might serve as an ideal calcium phosphate pulp capping biomaterial to induce initial healing response and it might has a capacity for being a good carrier for biologically active dentinogenic molecules.