A light and transmission microscopic study of mechanically exposed monkey pulps: dynamics of fiber elements during early dentin bridge formation.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this investigation was to assess the role of the von Korff-like fibers (VKF) during the process of dentin bridging.


METHODS
The monkey pulps, exposed to a hard-set calcium hydroxide, were evaluated at 3, 7, 14, 21, 30, 90, and 180 days.


RESULTS
At 21 days, longitudinal and transverse collagen fibrils were organized as lamellar structures in close proximity to and subjacent to the newly formed predentin. VKF bundles were present between newly formed odontoblastoid cells. The VKF were bundles of thin collagen fibrils inserted into the predentin, which consisted of thick collagen fibrils. At 30 days, the exposure site was completely occluded with a new predentin matrix; lamellar structures and VKF were no longer present.


CONCLUSIONS
The VKF may play a role in the connective tissue attachment to the dentin bridge, early in its formation.
Kitasako
Y
Y
Department of Operative Dentistry, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
Shibata
S
S
Arakawa
M
M
Cox
C F
CF
Tagami
J
J
D000818:Animals; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide; D003094:Collagen / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D003785:Dental Pulp Capping; D003789:Dental Pulp Exposure / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003809:Dentin, Secondary / Q000254:growth & development*; D008251:Macaca; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009804:Odontoblasts / Q000648:ultrastructure
D003094:Collagen; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide