Histological evaluation to study the effects of dental amalgam and composite restoration on human dental pulp: an in vivo study.

OBJECTIVE: To study and compare the effects of dental amalgam and composite restorations on human dental pulp. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred sound premolars scheduled for orthodontic extraction were divided equally into two groups: group A, teeth restored with silver amalgam, and group B, teeth restored with composite resin. Each group was equally subdivided into two subgroups [extracted after 24 h (A-1 and B-1) or 7 days (A-2 and B-2)], and the histological changes in the pulp related to the two different materials at the two different intervals were studied. RESULTS: It was found that after 24 h, the inflammatory response of the pulp in teeth restored with amalgam and composite was similar (p = 1.00). However, after 7 days, the severity of the inflammatory response of the pulp in teeth restored with amalgam was less compared to that in teeth restored with composite (p = 0.045). CONCLUSION: This study confirmed that amalgam continues to be the mechanically as well as biologically more competent restorative material. Composite could be a promising restorative material to satisfy esthetic needs for a considerable period of time. However, its biological acceptance is still in doubt.