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Updated: Sep 18, 2025
Development of a Direct Pulp-capping Model for the Evaluation of Pulpal Wound Healing and Reparative Dentin Formation in Mice
Published on: January 12, 2017
Dental pulp enhances dentin bonding durability: Evidence from a rat model
Bing-Jie Zhong1, Jing-Hui Lin1, Zheng-Xing Lin1
1Fujian Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & Fujian Provincial Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterial & Stomatological Key Laboratory of Fujian College and University, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China; Research Center of Dental Esthetics and Biomechanics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.
Dental pulp vitality is crucial for long-term dentin bonding durability. Maintaining pulp vitality preserves the dentin-resin interface integrity and reduces matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity, enhancing bond strength.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Dental Research
- Tissue Engineering
Background:
- Dentin bonding is essential for dental restorations.
- Long-term stability of dentin-resin bonds is a clinical challenge.
- The role of dental pulp vitality in bond longevity is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a novel animal model for investigating dentin bonding.
- To evaluate the impact of dental pulp vitality on the long-term stability of dentin-resin bonds.
Main Methods:
- A split-mouth design in Sprague-Dawley rats compared vital and nonvital teeth.
- Procedures included self-etch adhesive application and resin composite restoration.
- Analyses involved micro-CT, histology, microshear bond strength (μSBS), microscopy, and proteomics.
Main Results:
- The developed animal model was validated, showing no pathological alterations.
- Vital teeth demonstrated superior bonding durability, higher survival rates, and stable μSBS.
- Nonvital teeth showed decreased bond strength, microcracks, and increased matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity.
Conclusions:
- Dental pulp vitality enhances dentin-resin bond durability by maintaining interface integrity.
- Pulp vitality modulates endogenous enzymes, particularly MMPs, preserving interfacial stability.
- This finding may inform novel dentin bonding strategies.
