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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1


                   Consent of Independent Public Accountants


As independent public accountants we hereby consent to the incorporation by
reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of our report dated January
26, 2000 (except for the recapitalization discussed in Note 2, as to which the
date is February 3, 2000) contained in OraPharma, Inc.'s Registration Statement
on Form S-1 (File No. 333-93881) and to all references to our firm included in
this Registration Statement.



                                                  /s/ ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP


Philadelphia, PA.

June 29, 2000



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