Clinical and radiological evaluation of calcium sulfate as direct pulp capping material in primary teeth.

AIM To evaluate the clinical and radiological response of primary molars to direct pulp capping with calcium sulfate hemihydrate. MATERIALS AND METHODS Forty primary molar teeth in 40 healthy children aged 5-9 years were treated by direct pulp capping. Teeth were randomly assigned to two groups (n=20) according to material used for capping, as follows: Group 1: calcium hydroxide cement (Dycal); Group 2: calcium sulfate hemihydrate (Dentogen). All teeth were restored with a conventional glass ionomer base (Fuji IX) and amalgam. RESULTS After 12 months, the overall success rate of direct pulp capping was approximately 75% (24/32 teeth, excluding exfoliations). The success rate did not differ significantly between calcium hydroxide and calcium sulfate hemihydrate treatment. CONCLUSION Calcium sulfate hemihydrate was found to be as successful as calcium hydroxide for direct pulp capping of primary molars with Class I cavities. Further histological studies are needed to support these findings.