TRANSDENTINAL STIMULATION OF REPARATIVE DENTIN FORMATION BY OSTEOGENIC PROTEIN-1 IN MONKEYS

Recombinant human osteogenic protein-1 (OP-1) when applied to freshly cut dentine stimulated significantly more reparative dentine than calc ium hydroxide paste in permanent monkey teeth. The response to OP-1 wa s dependent upon the concentration applied to the tooth as a cavity li ner as well as the thickness of the residual dentine. The response to calcium hydroxide was similarly dependent upon the thickness of the re sidual dentine. These data suggest that dental pulps contain cells, in cluding perhaps mature odontoblasts, responsive to OP-1. Therefore OP- 1 may be useful in the therapeutic induction of reparative dentine for mation.