Objectives: the aim of this in vivo study was to evaluate the response of the dental pulp capped with bioactive proteins extracted from rabbit incisors dentin or calcium hydroxide paste, associated or not to a low energy laser irradiation. Methods: thirty-six teeth of four non-human primates were randomly divided in the following groups: G1: calcium hydroxide paste; G 2: laser + calcium hydroxide paste; G3: bioactive proteins; G4: laser + bioactive proteins; G5: laser; G6: sound teeth (control). Deep class V cavities were prepared on the buccal surface of the teeth. The pulp tissue was mechanically exposed and capped with the experimental materials. The cavities were filled-up with zinc-oxide and eugenol cement and amalgam. After the postoperative period of 180 days, the animals were sacrificed and the teeth processed for histological evaluation. Results: the histopathological analysis showed no statistical difference among the experimental groups regarding to the inflammatory cell response, tissue disorganization and stained bacteria. However, pulps capped with calcium hydroxide, regardless the low-energy laser irradiation, exhibited the best responses, with thick and homogeneous hard tissue barriers. Conclusions: it was concluded that the low-energy laser irradiation preceding the direct pulp capping did not improve the pulp tissue healing and dentin matrix deposition. Pulps capped with calcium hydroxide paste showed better results when compared to those capped with bioactive proteins regarding to the hard tissue barrier formation.