The emerging role of extracellular Ca2+ in osteo/odontogenic differentiation and the involvement of intracellular Ca2+ signaling: From osteoblastic cells to dental pulp cells and odontoblasts

Calcium ions (Ca 2+ ) is the main element of dental pulp capping materials. Ca 2+ signaling plays a crucial role in a myriad of cell activities. An overwhelming array of studies have already reported the experimental and clinical benefits of Ca 2+ ‐enriched materials in the treatment of teeth with accidental vital pulp exposure and incomplete root formation. Thus, Ca 2+ signaling has always been an excellent target for the design of various novel biomaterials for use in revitalizing or regenerative endodontic procedures. However, the molecular mechanisms that enable dental pulp cells (DPCs) to detect and respond to extracellular Ca 2+ have not been characterized in detail before. In this review, we mainly outline the pathways by which the cell detects and responds to extracellular Ca 2+ , as well as the relevant regulatory paths in DPCs and odontoblasts, and discuss the potential role of Ca 2+ as a therapeutic tool. Moreover, because DPCs share many of the same functional properties that are found in osteoblasts, some comparisons with bone cells were additionally incorporated into this text.