Somatosensory Functions of Melastatin Transient-Receptor Potential Channels in the Teeth: Molecular Basis for Thermal Dentine Hypersensitivity

Dental pain due to dentine hypersensitivity or pulpitis is characterized by short or lasting episodes of pain triggered by normally innocuous stimuli originating from exposed dentine. Both represent the most frequent pain of the orofacial region. Transient receptor potential (TRP) superfamily of ion channels participates in the detection of different modalities of sensibility in the mammalian sensory teeth system, i.e., trigeminal neurons and odontoblasts. In particular, some members of the melastatin family (TRPM) serve as molecular thermal sensors, and temperature is one of the most potent stimuli in triggering dentine hypersensitivity. Here we review and update the information about the distribution of TRPM channels in the trigeminal ganglion and dental pulp cells, especially odontoblast, in humans and animal models. In addition to the well know sensory roles of TRPM, other functions such as in development and mineralization of teeth are considered.