Pulp capping of dental pulp mechanically exposed to oral microflora: a 1-2 year observation of wound healing in the monkey.
Four adult Rhesus monkeys provided 120 teeth for buccal Class V cavities. Twenty-nine were non-exposed controls and 91 were exposed for 3 intervals. All 120 teeth were capped with a hard set Ca(OH)2 medicament, restored with amalgam, 57 evaluated after 1 year and 63 after 2 years. Of the 91 exposed pulps, 45 showed complete healing, 25 showed pulpal inflammation varying from acute to chronic, 12 showed severe pulpal breakdown and abscess formation and 9 were necrotic. No difference was observed in the healing response between the 3 exposure times. New hard tissue formed at, or subjacent to, the medicament in 77 of 91 exposed pulps with a tunnel defect frequently present, running from the medicament interface to the pulp. This study demonstrates that recurring pulp inflammation observed after 1 & 2 year direct pulp capping, is associated with bacterial contamination.
D000818:Animals; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide; D003723:Dental Amalgam; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology; D003785:Dental Pulp Capping; D003789:Dental Pulp Exposure; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D011671:Pulpitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014945:Wound Healing
D003723:Dental Amalgam; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide