The incidence of pulp healing defects with direct capping materials.

PURPOSE To (1) study the injury and healing activity of the pulp tissue to calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH)2], resin composite (RC) and resin-modified glass-ionomer (RMGI) materials when used as direct pulp capping agents, and (2) compare the incidence of healing defects between these materials. METHODS 135 Class V pulp exposed cavities were prepared in non-human primate teeth. Direct pulp capping was conducted over 6 to 730 days with hard set Ca(OH)2, RMGI and CR materials. Healing defects recorded were: (1) bacterial leakage with McKays stain; (2) operative debris including dentin fragments and particles of capping material; (3) pulpal inflammatory activity according to FDI standards; (4) area and absence of dentin bridge formation; and (5) presence of tunnel defects in bridge. Statistical analysis was evaluated using ANOVA. RESULTS The capping materials were associated with varying levels of pulp healing defects, including tunnel defects (P= 0.0001); operative debris (P= 0.0001); pulpal inflammatory cell activity (P= 0.0073) and bacterial leakage (P= 0.0260). Other healing defects, and the area of dentin bridge were not influenced by capping materials (P> 0.05).