Pulpo-dentin complex response after direct capping with self-etch adhesive systems.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate morphologically the response of feline teeth pulp to direct pulp capping with two different self-etch adhesive systems. Twenty-four cavities in feline teeth were mechanically exposed and assigned to one of two experimental groups: AdheSE + Tetric Ceram (the ASE group), or Adper Prompt L-Pop + Filtek Supreme (the APLP group). There was also a control group Dycal Ca(OH)(2) liner + Amalgam (the CH group eight teeth), and six teeth were used as an intact control group. The animals were sacrificed after 40 days. The teeth were removed and processed for standard histological evaluation, using a scoring system for inflammatory cell response, pulp tissue disorganisation, reparative tissue formation, and the presence of bacteria. Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences between the ASE and APLP self-etching resin systems during the observation period. The majority of the specimens presented inflammatory pulp response with tissue disorganisation and a lack of dentinal bridge formation. CH capping resulted in a significantly smaller inflammatory pulp response and a considerably higher incidence of reparative dentin formation. ASE and APLP were comparably effective as direct pulp capping materials, but their application resulted in significantly greater pulp tissue damage than CH capping. Further in vivo human studies are necessary to determine which adhesive resin systems should be clinically used for direct pulp capping without incurring severe damage to the pulpal tissue.