USING MINERAL TRIOXIDE AGGREGATE - AS A PULP-CAPPING MATERIAL

This study examined the dental pulp responses in monkeys to mineral tr ioxide aggregate, or MTA, and a calcium hydroxide preparation when use d as pulp-capping materials. After the pulps of 12 mandibular incisors were exposed with a No. 1 round bur, they were capped with either MTA or the calcium hydroxide preparation. After five months, the authors noted no pulpal inflammation in five of six samples capped with MTA, a nd all six pulps in this group had a complete dentin bridge. In contra st, all of the pulps capped with the calcium hydroxide preparation sho wed pulpal inflammation, and bridge formation occurred in only two sam ples. Based on these results, it appears that MIA has the potential to be used as a pulp-capping material during vital pulp therapy.