Dental pulp response to collagen and pulpotec cement as pulpotomy agents in primary dentition: A histological study

INTRODUCTION: As the search for a better biocompatible medicament is on, aim of the present study was to evaluate the pulpal response to collagen particles impregnated in antibiotics (Biofil-AB™) and new commercially available cement (Pulpotec) that can be used as pulpal medicament. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Total sample of 40 teeth from 20 children in the age group of 7-10 years which are noncarious having bilateral retained primary teeth were enrolled for the study. Nine teeth each were treated with collagen particles (group I) and Pulpotec cement (group II), and the remaining samples were discarded due to various reasons. Both groups were randomly subdivided into three teeth each that were extracted after 7, 15, and 30 days intervals and examined histologically. RESULTS: Moderate to severe inflammatory cells with newly formed blood vessels and disorganized odontoblastic cell layer was observed in group I after all three intervals with dentinal bridge formation in two specimens. On contrary, none of the specimens in group II showed any signs of inflammation, but there was a discontinuity in the odontoblastic layer lining along the dentin walls. CONCLUSION: Both materials were proven to be promising alternatives as pulp medicaments. However, collagen was found to be a better material.