Li-Wan Lee1, Sheng-Huang Hsiao2, Wei-Chiang Hung3, Yun-Ho Lin4, Po-Yu Chen5, Chun-Pin Chiang6. 1. Department of Dentistry, Taipei City Hospital, Renai Branch, Taipei, Taiwan. 2. Department of Neurosurgery, Taipei City Hospital, Renai Branch, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Traditional Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan. 3. School of Oral Hygiene, College of Oral Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Division of Endodontics, Department of Dentistry, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. 4. School of Dentistry, College of Oral Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Division of Oral Pathology, Department of Dentistry, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. 5. Institute of Polymer Science and Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. 6. Graduate Institute of Oral Biology, School of Dentistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Dentistry, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: cpchiang@ntu.edu.tw.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) is a biocompatible material for direct pulp capping. This study was designed to compare the clinical outcomes of pulp-exposed teeth treated with either poly(ε-caprolactone) fiber mesh (PCL-FM) as a barrier for MTA (so-called PCL-FM/MTA) or MTA direct pulp capping. METHODS: Sixty human vital teeth were evenly divided into 4 groups (n = 15 in each group). Teeth in groups 1 and 3 had pulp exposure <1 mm in diameter, whereas teeth in groups 2 and 4 had pulp exposure of 1-1.5 mm in diameter. Teeth in groups 1 and 2 were treated with PCL-FM/MTA direct pulp capping, and those in groups 3 and 4 were treated with MTA direct pulp capping. RESULTS: Teeth treated with PCL-FM/MTA direct pulp capping needed a significantly shorter mean duration for dentin bridge formation than teeth treated with MTA direct pulp capping. Moreover, teeth with pulp exposure <1.0 mm in diameter needed a significantly shorter mean duration for dentin bridge formation than teeth with pulp exposure of 1-1.5 mm in diameter after either PCL-FM/MTA or MTA direct pulp capping treatment. In addition, teeth treated with PCL-FM/MTA direct pulp capping formed an approximately 3-fold thicker dentin bridge than teeth treated with MTA direct pulp capping 8 weeks or 3 months later. Furthermore, none of the teeth treated with PCL-FM/MTA direct pulp capping showed tooth discoloration after treatment for 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: PCL-FM/MTA is a better combination material than MTA alone for direct pulp capping of human permanent teeth.
INTRODUCTION:Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) is a biocompatible material for direct pulp capping. This study was designed to compare the clinical outcomes of pulp-exposed teeth treated with either poly(ε-caprolactone) fiber mesh (PCL-FM) as a barrier for MTA (so-called PCL-FM/MTA) or MTA direct pulp capping. METHODS: Sixty human vital teeth were evenly divided into 4 groups (n = 15 in each group). Teeth in groups 1 and 3 had pulp exposure <1 mm in diameter, whereas teeth in groups 2 and 4 had pulp exposure of 1-1.5 mm in diameter. Teeth in groups 1 and 2 were treated with PCL-FM/MTA direct pulp capping, and those in groups 3 and 4 were treated with MTA direct pulp capping. RESULTS: Teeth treated with PCL-FM/MTA direct pulp capping needed a significantly shorter mean duration for dentin bridge formation than teeth treated with MTA direct pulp capping. Moreover, teeth with pulp exposure <1.0 mm in diameter needed a significantly shorter mean duration for dentin bridge formation than teeth with pulp exposure of 1-1.5 mm in diameter after either PCL-FM/MTA or MTA direct pulp capping treatment. In addition, teeth treated with PCL-FM/MTA direct pulp capping formed an approximately 3-fold thicker dentin bridge than teeth treated with MTA direct pulp capping 8 weeks or 3 months later. Furthermore, none of the teeth treated with PCL-FM/MTA direct pulp capping showed tooth discoloration after treatment for 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: PCL-FM/MTA is a better combination material than MTA alone for direct pulp capping of human permanent teeth.