PULP REMAINS VIABLE FOLLOWING VITAL AMPUTATION OF THE MESIO-BUCCAL ROOT OF THE MAXILLARY 4TH PREMOLAR IN DOGS

VITAL AMPUTATION OF THE MESIO-BUCCAL root Of the maxillary fourth prem olar (P4) was performed bilaterally in 8 dogs. Histopathologic evaluat ion of the tooth structure revealed normal pulp in the remaining mesio -buccal, mesio-palatal, and distal roots and crown during a mean follo w-up period of 3.5 +/- 1.9 months. Amputation site healing was charact erized by a reparative dentin bridge produced by odontoid cells. Tunne l defects were observed in 13 of 16 (81%) dentin bridges. It is conclu ded that the pulp of a tri-rooted, periodontal disease-free tooth rema ins viable during a 6-month period following vital root amputation. Th ese results point to the intriguing possibility that this may also occ ur in humans, however, this needs to be directly tested in man.