Prospects of Passive Immunotherapy to Treat Pulpal Inflammation

Dental caries is the microbial invasion of the tooth structures including enamel, dentin and finally the pulp, resulting in pulpitis. Pulpitis is characterised by chronic inflammation and elevated cytokine levels and if untreated, it can lead to irreversible pulpitis, tissue necrosis and periapical pathology. Chronic pulpal inflammation delays reparative events, and pulp healing can only occur after removal of pathogenic bacteria with subsequent reduction in the intensity of the pulpal inflammation. With a fuller description of both active and passive immunotherapy, this chapter deals with the potential role of passive immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory therapies in the treatment of oral diseases, specifically dental caries. It highlights the advantages of passive immunotherapies locally delivered to the carious lesions. Immunotherapy has been explored in oral diseases including periodontitis and pulpal inflammation. Currently, the pathogenesis of periodontitis is explained by the host–bacteria interaction model.