Dental tissue infection and disease result in acute and
chronic activation of the innate immune response, which
is mediated by molecular and cellular signaling. Different
cell types within the dentin-pulp complex are able to
detect invading bacteria at all stages of the infection.
Indeed, at relatively early disease stages, odontoblasts
will respond to bacterial components, and as the disease
progresses, core pulpal cells including fibroblasts, stems
cells, endothelial cells, and immune cells will become
involved.