[The significance of endogenous peptides for dental pulp pain]

The increase of knowledges in the field of endorphines and other peptides causes new aspects of development and transmission of dental pain. Methionin-enkephalin (ME) and substance P (SP) are found also in the dental pulp and the dentine. The concentration of SP is higher in the pulp, than in some other tissues. The concentration of both, ME and SP, in the endodont is different with respect to different functional situations, e.g. it is lower in case of pain. We suppose, there is a peptiderg reception and transmission of pain in dentine. Interaction with this new system opens new ways for opposing pulpal pain.