[Research status and development trends of dental pulpitis biomarkers]

Pulpitis is an inflammatory response of dental pulp tissue triggered by external stimuli such as bacterial infection, mechanical trauma, and iatrogenic injury. Accurate diagnosis of pulpitis is essential for the success of minimally invasive endodontic treatments. However, the current diagnostic framework lacks objective indicators capable of precisely assessing the severity of pulp inflammation. Recent studies have revealed that biomarkers such as matrix metalloproteinases, cytokines, chemokines, non-coding RNAs, growth factors, and signaling molecules are closely associated with the degree of pulp inflammation. These findings suggested that biomarker-based molecular diagnostics held significant promise for advancing precision and minimally invasive approaches in endodontics. This review systematically discusses the current research progress, challenges, and future directions of biomarkers in the diagnosis and treatment of pulpitis.