Transdentinal stimulation of reparative dentine formation by osteogenic protein-1 in monkeys.

Recombinant human osteogenic protein-1 (OP-1) when applied to freshly cut dentine stimulated significantly more reparative dentine than calcium hydroxide paste in permanent monkey teeth. The response to OP-1 was dependent upon the concentration applied to the tooth as a cavity liner as well as the thickness of the residual dentine. The response to calcium hydroxide was similarly dependent upon the thickness of the residual dentine. These data suggest that dental pulps contain cells, including perhaps mature odontoblasts, responsive to OP-1. Therefore OP-1 may be useful in the therapeutic induction of reparative dentine formation.