Freeze-dried bone in pulpotomy procedures in monkey.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of freeze-dried bone on amputated pulps. Fifteen primary and one permanent monkey teeth were treated with freeze-dried bone. As the control group, another fifteen primary teeth were treated with calcium hydroxide and fifteen primary and one permanent teeth with formocresol. Four other primary teeth pulps were amputated and sealed with tin foil and IRM as controls. Twelve mandibular incisors were left intact. Histologically all but three teeth treated with human freeze-dried bone after three months showed a complete or partial calcific barrier directly below the amputation site. Normal appearing odontoblastic cells were noted below the calcific barrier. The apical third was vital with an occasional chronic inflammatory cell visible. The histological findings of teeth treated with calcium-hydroxide were very similar to freeze-dried bone. All but four teeth showed a complete calcific barrier at the amputation site. The odontoblastic cells were normal in appearance and the inflammatory cell reactions decreased from the middle portion toward the apical region. The histological evaluation of the formocresol-treated teeth was comparable with previously published studies.