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.