RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to compare the cell viability of dental pulp cells treated with Biodentine (Septodont, Saint-Maur, France) and mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and the in vitro and in vivo expression of mineralization markers induced by the 2 materials. METHODS: Human dental pulp cells isolated from 6 permanent teeth were stimulated with Biodentine and MTA extracts. Cell viability was determined using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay, and quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was used to determine the expression of mineralization markers. Specimens of teeth from dogs treated with Biodentine and MTA after pulpotomy were used to determine the presence of osteopontin and alkaline phosphatase by immunohistochemistry and runt-related transcription factor 2 by immunofluorescence. RESULTS: No significant differences in cell viability were found between MTA and Biodentine extracts and controls after 24 and 48 hours (P > .05). After 48 hours, osteopontin (SPP1), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) expression was higher in MTA and Biodentine than in controls (P < .05). Osteopontin staining was more intense and spread over a greater number of areas in Biodentine than in MTA samples (P < .0001). Alkaline phosphatase staining of a mineralized tissue bridge was significantly different between materials (P < .0001), but no difference in alkaline phosphatase staining of pulp tissue was found between MTA and Biodentine (P = .2). Also, no significant difference in the number of cells labeled for runt-related transcription factor 2 by immunofluorescence was observed between materials (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Biodentine stimulated similar markers as MTA, but staining was more intense and spread over a larger area of the pulp tissue.