Self-etching adhesives: possible new pulp capping agents to vital pulp therapy.

Pulp capping is one of the solving for keeping vital pulp in the case of dentin caries, reversible pulpitis or traumatic pulp exposure. The presence of bacteria on the cavity walls or in the pulp was the major factor that leads to the failure of pulp capping. Traditional pulp capping agent, calcium hydroxide, may not prevent microleakage. Selfetching system is a newly developed adhesive system, which could provide less microleakage and would not break down or dissolve, preventing the oral fluids and bacteria from the pulp along the cavity wall. This may reduce such clinical problems as postoperative sensitivity, secondary caries and marginal discoloration. Researches showed that some kinds of self-etching adhesives induced the mild to moderate inflammatory pulp response, with negative bacterial staining. Inclusion of antibacterial components into self-etching system, such as 12-methacryloyloxydodecylpyridinium bromide (MDPB) may inhibit bacteria and provide better clinical effects. It is speculated that using the self-etching adhesive system containing the antibacterial agent, such as MDPB, to the dental pulp directly or indirectly, may inhibit bacteria after the placement of restoration as well as residual bacteria in the cavity.