Host dentin and periapical tissues

Host dentin and periapical tissues represent the anatomical and physiological environment involved in endodontic and restorative dental therapies. Dentin is a calcified connective tissue that forms the bulk of the tooth, containing dentinal tubules that can harbor bacteria during infection (StatPearls, 2023). Periapical tissues, including the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone, surround the root apex and are the site of inflammatory responses to pulpal disease, such as apical periodontitis (Journal of Endodontics, 2020). While not a single molecular target, these tissues are the focus of therapeutic interventions using medicaments like calcium hydroxide and mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), which aim to eliminate pathogens and stimulate host-mediated repair and mineralization (PubMed, 2021). Understanding the interaction between dental materials and the host immune response in these tissues is critical for successful regenerative endodontic procedures (International Endodontic Journal, 2019).

Other names

DentinPeriapical tissuePeriradicular tissueDental hard tissuePeriapical region

Pharmacological agents applied to these tissues typically act through antimicrobial activity (disinfection of dentinal tubules), induction of hard tissue formation (biomineralization), or modulation of the inflammatory cascade in the periapical space (PubMed, 2021).