Indirect pulp capping in the primary dentition: a 4 year follow-up study.

PURPOSE: Evaluate clinical and radiographic changes in primary teeth submitted to indirect pulp capping (IPC) over a 48-month-period. METHODS: Twenty seven primary molars with deep caries, but without preoperative signs of irreversible pulpits, were treated with IPC. The teeth were randomly divided into two groups, according to the material used for protection of the dentin-pulp complex. (1) a calcium hydroxide liner (Dycal) and (2) glass ionomer cement (Vitremer). RESULTS: After 48 months, Group-1 showed a success rate of 88.8% and Group-2 of 93%. No statistical significant difference between the groups was observed (P = 0.62). CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The results of this study suggested that indirect pulp capping in primary teeth arrests the progression of the underlying caries, regardless of the material used as a liner.

Analysis of primary tooth dentin after indirect pulp capping.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of primary molar dentin after indirect pulp capping (ICP) by of color, consistency and microhardness analyses. METHODS: The study design consisted of 3 groups: a test group of 13 primary molars that had been submitted to ICP with either calcium hydroxide or resin-modified glass ionomer cement; a positive control group of 15 sound molars; and a negative control group of 15 molars with deep acute carious lesions. The test group teeth had their restorations and pulp-capping materials removed and their cavity depth measured (mean depth=3-4 mm). In the positive control group, 3- to 4-mm-deep cavities were prepared. In the negative control group, the infected dentin was removed following the same parameters used for dentin excavation in a previous study by the authors. In all groups, the remaining dentin was analyzed according to descriptive standards (consistency and color). Microhardness was performed by a calibrated examiner blinded to the groups. Data were analyzed statistically by 1-way analysis of variance and Tukey's test (P <.01). RESULTS: The dentin of all teeth in the test group became hard. Nine teeth had yellow-clear dentin, and 4 teeth had dark-brown dentin. Microhardness means (+/-SD) were: test group=40.81 (+/-16.28) KHN (Knoop hardness number); positive control group=62.73 (+/-11.24) KHN; and negative control group=19.15 (+/-6.99) KHN. Microhardness assessment showed no statistically significant differences (P <.01) among the groups. CONCLUSION: This study's results suggest a mineral gain by the affected dentin after IPC, regardless of the protective base material.