Scanning electron microscopy evaluation of the hard tissue barrier after pulp capping with calcium hydroxide, mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) or ProRoot MTA

• Published in: Australian endodontic journal 2009-08, Vol.35 (2), p.78-84
• Main Authors: Reston, Eduardo Galia, De Souza Costa, Carlos Alberto
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aluminum Compounds - therapeutic use; Animals; Calcium Compounds - therapeutic use; calcium hydroxide; Calcium Hydroxide - therapeutic use; Dental Pulp Capping - methods; Dental Pulp Cavity - surgery; Dental Pulp Cavity - ultrastructure; Dental Pulp Exposure - therapy; Dental Restoration, Permanent - methods; Dentistry; Dogs; Drug Combinations; mineral trioxide aggregate; Oxides - therapeutic use; Pulpotomy - methods; pulpotomy pulp capping; Root Canal Filling Materials - therapeutic use; scanning electron microscopy; Silicates - therapeutic use; Wound Healing - drug effects
• ISSN: 1329-1947; 1747-4477
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1747-4477.2008.00131.x

The aim of this study was to investigate the morphology and localisation of calcium hydroxide‐ and mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA)‐induced hard tissue barriers after pulpotomy in dogs' teeth. Pulpotomies were performed on maxillary and mandibular premolars of five dogs. The teeth were assigned into three groups according to the pulp‐capping agent used. The pulpal wounds were capped with calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2– control), MTA or ProRoot MTA, and the cavities were restored with amalgam. After a 90‐day follow‐up period, the dogs were euthanised and the teeth were examined under scanning electron microscopy (SEM). An image‐processing and analysis software was used to delimit the perimeters of the root canal area and the hard tissue barrier to determine the percentage of root canal obliteration. SEM data were used to assess the morphology, localisation and extension of the reparative hard tissue barriers. ProRoot MTA was statistically different from MTA and Ca(OH)2 (P  0.05). No statistically significant difference (P > 0.01; P > 0.05) was observed between MTA and Ca(OH)2. A larger number of complete (centroperipheral) hard tissue barriers with predominance of dentinal tubules was observed to the ProRoot MTA when compared with the Ca(OH)2 group.