Amalgam Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Amalgam, including details on dental fillings, dentistry, side-effects.

Clinical long-term evaluation of MTA as a direct pulp capping material in primary teeth.

Tuna D, Olmez A

Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey. dtdilektuna@yahoo.com

AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) when used as a pulp capping material in primary teeth. METHODOLOGY: Clinical follow-up was performed on 25 symmetrical pairs of primary molars with deep occlusal caries, in 25 patients between the ages of 5 and 8 years. Pulps exposed during cavity preparation were treated by direct pulp capping with MTA or calcium hydroxide, based with resin-bonded zinc oxide eugenol cement and restored with amalgam. Clinical and radiographic examinations were carried out at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 months. RESULTS: Twenty-four-month clinical and radiographic follow-ups were carried out on 22 patients. One patient failed to return for evaluation after 1 month, one after 9 months and another after 12 months. During follow-up, none of the MTA and calcium hydroxide groups exhibited clinical or radiographic failure. CONCLUSIONS: Mineral trioxide aggregate was found to be as successful as calcium hydroxide when used for direct pulp capping in primary teeth. Further histological investigations are needed to support these findings.

Published 29 February 2008 in Int Endod J, 41(4): 273-8.
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