Octacalcium phosphate-based cement as a pulp-capping agent in rats.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the pulpal response to an octacalcium phosphate (OCP)-based cement used as a pulp-capping material.


METHODS
The pulps of 60 maxillary first molars of male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed and then capped directly by using either OCP-based cement or a calcium hydroxide slurry (control). Histologic examinations were performed at 1, 2, and 5 weeks after the surgical procedure, and the results were analyzed statistically by using the Mann-Whitney U test (P<.05).


RESULTS
One week after pulp capping, the initial formation of reparative dentin in the exposed areas was more notable in the calcium hydroxide group than in the OCP-based cement group. At 2 weeks, reparative dentin covered by a layer of odontoblast-like cells was observed in both groups. However, at 5 weeks, reparative dentin consisting of regular dentinal tubules was observed more frequently in the OCP-based cement group.


CONCLUSIONS
OCP-based cement allowed favorable healing processes to occur in the dental pulp.
Sena
Mariko
M
Devlopmentl Oral Health Science, Graduate School, Tokyo medical and Dental University, Japan.
Yamashita
Yasuo
Y
Nakano
Yumiko
Y
Ohgaki
Masataka
M
Nakamura
Satoshi
S
Yamashita
Kimihiro
K
Takagi
Yuzo
Y
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003738:Dental Cements / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000187:drug effects; D003785:Dental Pulp Capping; D003789:Dental Pulp Exposure / Q000628:therapy; D003804:Dentin / Q000187:drug effects; D003809:Dentin, Secondary / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008963:Molar; D009804:Odontoblasts / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013997:Time Factors; D014945:Wound Healing
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D003738:Dental Cements; C022045:octacalcium phosphate; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide