Dexamethasone treatment reduces sensory neuropeptides and nerve sprouting reactions in injured teeth.

Dental injuries have been shown to generate extensive structural and cytochemical changes in sensory fibers that contain neuropeptides such as calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) or substance P (SP). The present study was designed to test whether the anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone (DEX) can alter neural responses to dental injuries. DEX (20 micrograms/100 g body weight) was given to adult rats (n = 10) prior to dental surgery and daily thereafter for 4 days.