Objective To explore the mechanism of bone remodeling during the process of bone defect healing via topical application of exogenous β-NGF. Methods Thirty healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this study. Two 5-mm diameter bilateral bone defects were created on the parietal bone. The right side was given 10 μg β-NGF/PBS solution (experimental group) and the left side was given only PBS solution (control group) via an osmotic pump for 7 days. Expression levels of BMP-2 and tartrate-resistant alkalin phosphatase (TRAP) at postoperative 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days were detected using immunohistochemical staining and semi-quantitatively analyzed with integral optical density (IOD). Results Immunohistochemistry showed that the expression levels of BMP-2 (IOD values) in the experimental group were significantly higher (P<0.05) than that of the control group at postoperative day 14. Special TRAP staining results showed that the activities of osteoclasts in the experimental group was significantly decreased compared with that of the control group (P<0.05) at postoperative day 7, 21 and 28. Conclusions The results of this study indicate that topical application of exogenous β-NGF plays an important role in bone remodeling during the process of bone defect healing, which may be through increased production of BMP-2 and inhibition of osteoclast activity.