The effects of combined nerve resection and cavity preparation and restoration on response dentine formation in rabbit incisors

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the effects of nerve resection and cavity preparation with restoration (CPR) on the formation of response dentine in continually developing rabbit incisor teeth. Resections of the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) and/or the superior cervical ganglion (SCG) were performed on the right side of 42 adult New Zealand rabbits. Fifteen days were allowed for neural degeneration, after which uniform CPR were placed in both resected and adjacent normal incisors. Half of the operated animals were killed 14 days after CPR placement and the second half, 35 days after. Both radiographic and histological evidence revealed a dramatic increase in dentine deposition following IAN and IAN-SCG with CPR both 14 and 35 days after cavity preparation. The pulps of these neural-resected and CPR incisors were small and limited to the growing end of the tooth. Most of the newly formed dentine appeared regular and without defects; however, the dentine found at the apex was distorted with the appearance of osteodentine. At 14 and 35 days after CPR, the SCG-resected incisors showed no more response dentine formation than adjacent non-resected teeth. Radiographic and histologic appearance of CPR treated incisors indicated they were comparable in size and morphology to the controls.