Dental Pain: Is ATP the key mediator?

Abstract

Dental pain has a significant impact on the population and the mechanisms remain poorly understood. However, there is accumulating evidence that purinergic receptors are key contributors in central and peripheral dental nociception mechanisms. These purine receptors are localized in the trigeminal sensory neurons and are activated by Adenosine 5' Tri-Phosphate (ATP), which is thought to be a primary mediator in dental pain. Recent evidence has implicated purinergic receptors in persistent pain states. This includes increased sensitivity to ATP in satellite glia cells (which surround the trigeminal sensory neuron cell bodies), and reports of ATP signaling between dentin producing odontoblasts and trigeminal sensory neurons. This article will briefly summarize the importance of the purinergic receptor and ATP as a key mediator in the mechanisms of dental pain.