Characteristics and effects of calcified degenerative zones on the formation of hard tissue barriers in amputated canine dental pulp.

The purpose of this research was to study under undecalcified conditions the presence, ultrastructural features, and contributions of the degenerative zone beneath the necrotic zone and whether it had effects on the formation of reparative dentin in canine incisors and premolars. The research was conducted over a period of 14 days after experimental pulpotomy using calcium hydroxide as a pulp-capping agent. On the first day following pulp exposure and capping with calcium hydroxide, electron-dense spherical bodies were observed under the necrotic zone. Energy dispersive X-ray point analysis confirmed that these electron-dense deposits contained calcium and phosphorus. By the third day, varying amounts of minute von Kossa-positive granules could be observed light-microscopically between the two zones of necrosis and underlying vital pulp tissue. Migration and proliferation of pulpal cells, most probably mesenchymal cells, were observed adjacent to the von Kossa-positive zone. The ultrastructure of the von Kossa-positive zone consisted of degenerated cells, electron-dense spherical bodies, and electron-dense shortened dilating fibrils. By the seventh day, short cylindrical-shaped cells collected at the coronal end of the vital pulp tissue. By the fourteenth day, the specimens having a uniform von Kossa-positive zone exhibited rapid differentiation of odontoblasts and tubular dentin formation. In contrast, only some specimens having an irregular von Kossa-positive zone exhibited osteodentin formation and the beginning of odontoblast differentiation beneath the osteodentin. These findings suggest that this calcified degenerative zone has an important effect on the reparative process of pulp tissue after pulpotomy.