A light and transmission microscopic study of mechanically exposed monkey pulps - Dynamics of fiber elements during early dentin bridge formation

Objective. The aim of this investigation was to assess the role of the von Korff-like fibers (VKF) during the process of dentin bridging. Study design. The monkey pulps, exposed to a hard-set calcium hydroxide, we re evaluated at 3, 7, 14, 21, 30, 90, and 180 days. Results. At 21 days, longitudinal and transverse collagen fibrils were orga nized as lamellar structures in close proximity to and subjacent to the new ly formed predentin. VKF bundles were present between newly formed odontobl astoid cells. The VKF were bundles of thin collagen fibrils inserted into t he predentin, which consisted of thick collagen fibrils. At 30 days, the ex posure site was completely occluded with a new predentin matrix; lamellar s tructures and VKF were no longer present. Conclusions. The VKF may play a role in the connective tissue attachment to the dentin bridge, early in its formation.