The purpose of this study is to investigate the response of human pulp cell on Portland cement mixed with β-glycerophosphate. To investigate the effect of β-glycerophosphate and/or dexamethasone on human pulp cell, ALP activity on various concentration of β-glycerophosphate and dexamethasone was measured and mineral nodule of human pulp cell was stained with Alizarin red S. MTS assay and ALP activity of human pulp cell on Portland cement mixed with various concentration of β-glycerophosphate (10 mM, 100mM, 1M) was measured and the specimens were examined under SEM.

Addition of β-glycerophosphate or dexamethasone alone had no effect however, the addition of 5 mM β-glycerophosphate and 100 nM dexamethasone had the largest increasement in ALP activity. There was no toxicity in all samples and the data showed that Portland cement mixed with 10 mM β-glycerophosphate had more increase in ALP activity compared with control.

In conclusion, Portland cement mixed with β-glycerophosphate has no toxicity and promotes differentiation and mineralization of pulp cell compared with additive-free Portland cement. This implicated that application of Portland cement mixed with β-glycerophosphate might form more reparative dentin and in turn it would bring direct pulp capping to success.