The effect of current pulp capping materials against intrapulpal temperature increase in primary teeth. An in-vitro study by pulpal microcirculation simulation model

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Widespread use of light-cured materials has raised the issue of possible thermal effects on pulp tissue. It was aimed to investigate the effectiveness of pulp capping materials (PCM) against intrapulpal temperature increases (ITI) in primary teeth during light-curing of compomers in this study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A Class-I cavity was prepared on the primary mandibular second molar tooth. An experimental mechanism was used for pulpal microcirculation and temperature regulation of the tooth. There are eight groups in the study: in Groups 1–6: MTA-Angelus, Biodentine, TheraCal LC, Dycal, conventional Glass Ionomer Cement (GIC) and resin-modified GIC were used as PCM, respectively. In Group-7 no PCM was used. In Group-8 only light was applied to the cavity without any PCM or compomer. Compomer restorations were applied in Groups 1–7 with the same material (Dyract XP, DENTSPLY, Weybridge, UK) and light cured for 10sec with the same light-curing unit (Kerr, Demi Plus, 1200 mW/cm2). Temperature changes (Δt) in the pulp chamber were measured and statistically analysed with Kruskal–Wallis and Mann Whitney U tests. RESULTS: The highest Δt-value (4.57 ± 0.11 °C) was measured in Group-4 and 7. The lowest Δt-value (3.94 ± 0.4 °C) was measured in Group-8. Δt-values measured in the Groups 2, 3 and 6 were significantly lower than the values measured in Group-4 and 7 (p = 0.001). ITI during the light-curing of the PCM used in Group-3 and 6 exceeded the critical value (5.5 °C) reported in the literature. CONCLUSION: In protecting the pulp from the harmful thermal effects of restorative procedures Biodentine which is a self-cured material, may be most acceptable choice as an indirect PCM.