In vivo study of respiratory depression of pulp tissue resulting from cavity preparation and dental materials.

Pulpal respiration in second and third premolar dog teeth was measured by a radioisotope tracer determination. Dental amalgam, a zinc oxide and eugenol base, and a calcium hydroxide base were placed into a cavity preparation. Following a two-week period the teeth wer~ extracted intact. The pulp tissue was removed and suspended in a phosphate buffer saline solution (PBS) which 14C-succinic acid had been added. The 14C0~ produced was used as an index of the effect on pulpal respiration of the various dental materials and the cavity preparation. When compared to the control, the preparation and materials were found to have a significant effect on the pulpal respiration.