QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF DENTIN BRIDGE FORMATION FOLLOWING PULP-CAPPING IN MINIATURE SWINE

A quantitative assessment of dentin bridges was conducted on sections prepared from teeth capped with four pulp-capping agents (Bioglass, Li fe, Demineralized Dentin Matrix, and Teflon) in a micro-swine model, T he degree of mineralization of the dentin bridges relative to the adja cent primary dentin was measured using a computer-based image analysis of microradiographs prepared from the sections. The rate of formation of the dentin bridge was measured from fluorescent bands formed in th e same sections by a Demeclocycline dentin marker. There were no stati stically significant differences in the relative mineral densities of the dentin bridges and the rate of dentin bridge formation under the f our pulp-capping agents. These findings support the suggestion that co mponents of the extracellular matrix rather than pulp-capping agents m ay be important in the formation and mineralization of dentin bridges in repairing dental pulps.