Dentists are not recognised as pioneers of tissue regeneration but perhaps should be as they have been using tissue regenerative techniques for almost a hundred years. Our biological understanding of healing of the dental pulp is increasing at an exponential rate. Vital pulp therapies offer a minimally invasive approach to the management of pulpal disease preventing the need for more invasive techniques such as root canal therapy, which can advance the tooth along the restorative cycle. Vital pulp treatments are more predictable than dogma may suggest and careful management of the injured or exposed pulp can result in a predictable successful outcome preserving the defence system of the tooth.

• •Review the pathophysiology of the dental-pulp complex and outline it’s defensive and reparative mechanisms.
• •Discuss the diagnostic process and challenge current diagnostic terminology of pulpal disease.
• •Discuss indications and outcomes for vital pulp treatments.
• •Illustrate techniques to manage the injured pulp.