The radiographic outcomes of direct pulp-capping procedures performed by dental students: a retrospective study.
BACKGROUND
The decision between pulp capping and root canal therapy after pulp exposure is a clinical issue. The aim of the authors' study was to evaluate the outcome of direct pulp-capping procedures performed by dental students.


METHODS
The authors followed the treatment outcomes of 193 patients with 204 pulp exposures with direct pulp capping. They determined the outcome of pulp capping radiographically using periapical radiographs taken at least three years after pulp exposure. The outcome was considered as successful if the tooth was present and not associated with periapical radiolucency or root canal treatment; otherwise, the outcome was considered as being a failure.


RESULTS
Overall, the success rate of pulp capping was 59.3 percent. The success was associated more with mechanical exposure than with carious exposure (92.2 versus 33.3 percent) (P < .001), more with permanent restoration than with temporary restoration (80.8 versus 47.3 percent) (P < .001) and more with class I occlusal restoration (83.8 percent) than with proximal multiple surface restorations (Class II, 56.1 percent; Class III, 58.8 percent; mesial-occlusal-distal, 28.6 percent) (P = .009). Patients' age, sex, and tooth location and position had no significant effect on the outcome (P > .05).


CONCLUSIONS
The success rate of direct pulp capping was 92.2 percent with mechanical exposure and 33.3 percent with carious exposure.


CONCLUSIONS
Direct pulp capping is recommended after mechanical exposure with immediate placement of permanent restoration, while root canal therapy would be the choice of treatment if the exposure was due to caries.
Al-Hiyasat
Ahmad S
AS
Department of Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Jordan University of Science & Technology, Irbid, Jordan. hiyasat@just.edu.jo
Barrieshi-Nusair
Kefah M
KM
Al-Omari
Mohammad A
MA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003785:Dental Pulp Capping / Q000379:methods*; D003789:Dental Pulp Exposure / Q000628:therapy; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent; D004708:Endodontics / Q000193:education*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013335:Students, Dental; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016896:Treatment Outcome