Histological response of human pulps capped with calcium hydroxide and a self-etch adhesive containing an antibacterial component

AIM: To compare human pulp tissue response following direct pulp capping with calcium hydroxide and a self-etch adhesive containing antibacterial component. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-six erupted sound premolars scheduled to be extracted for orthodontic reasons were selected from 17 human subjects. Pulp exposures were made. Direct pulp capping was then performed using calcium hydroxide and a self-etch adhesive containing antibacterial component in its primer. The teeth were then restored with composite resin. Two teeth were maintained intact as a control group. After 7 and 30 days, teeth were extracted and processed for light microscopic examination using a histological scoring system. The teeth were divided into four groups (N = 16) according to the pulp capping materials used and their days of extraction. The results were then statistically analyzed by Mann-Whitney U-test. RESULTS: After the 7-day observation period, the inflammatory reaction to the self-etch adhesive containing antibacterial component group was significantly less severe than that in the calcium hydroxide group (P < 0.05). After the 30-day observation period, the inflammatory reaction was slight in both groups, but specimens with dentin bridge formation in the self-etch adhesive group were significantly less common than those in the calcium hydroxide group (P < 0.05).