The tissue reactions after capping of dog teeth with calcium hydroxide experimentally crammed into the pulp space.

The pulps of 48 permanent dog teeth, incisors and canines, were evaluated histopathologically after capping treatment with pure calcium hydroxide placed by two methods: the experimental method, in which the calcium hydroxide was crammed into the pulpal space via the exposure site, and the usual method of direct pulp capping (controls). The results were recorded after periods of 2, 15, and 69 days. The healing process with hard-tissue formation was more evident in the experimentally capped teeth, despite the fact that pulpal necrosis occurred in a higher proportion of these teeth after use of this method of placement of the calcium hydroxide.