Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of direct pulp capping using an experimental self-adhesive resin for direct pulp capping (SRD) containing silica and surface pre-reacted glass-ionomer (S-PRG) filler on pulpal healing and to monitor the dentin bridge formation in rat pulp 2-4 weeks after operation.
Methods: Five types of SRDs (SRD-0: S-PRG fillers 0 wt%; SRD-1: S-PRG fillers 9.1 wt%; SRD-2: S-PRG fillers 18.4 wt%; SRD-3: S-PRG fillers 27.8 wt%; and SRD-6: S-PRG fillers 57.4 wt%) were prepared, and mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) was used as control (n = 8). Direct pulp capping was performed on rats that were sacrificed for further evaluation 2 or 4 weeks after the operation. The pulp tissue disorganization (PTD), inflammatory cell infiltration (ICI), and reparative dentin formation were histopathologically evaluated; the data were statistically analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis and the Mann-Whitney U tests.
Results: The histopathological evaluation of SRD-1-treated test animals 2 weeks post-operation revealed inferior PTD and ICI when compared with that of MTA. Even 4 weeks after the operation in SRD-1- and SRD-2-treated rats, the PTD and ICI were inferior when compared with those of MTA. The dental specimens of SRD-0 and MTA showed orthodentin formation, whereas SRD-treated test animals showed osteodentin formation at a position slightly deeper than the site of the pulpal exposure.
Significance: The reparative dentin formed by SRD-0 and MTA was genuine, whereas that formed by SRD-3 and SRD-6 was ossified and ectopic. SRD may have the potential to be utilized clinically as a direct pulp capping material.
Keywords: Direct pulp capping; Filler contents; Multi-ion release; Self-adhesive resin; Surface pre-reacted glass-ionomer filler.
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