title: Clinical assessment of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) as direct pulp capping in young permanent teeth.
abstract: Carious pulp exposure in permanent molars of children is a common incident. Mineral trioxide aggregate is a new material that possesses numerous exciting possibilities for pulp therapy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of MTA as a direct pulp capping agent in young permanent teeth.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty asymptomatic permanent molars with pulp exposures were treated by pulp capping using MTA. At each recall (6 12, 18 and 24 months), the teeth were assessed clinically, through pulpal sensitivity tests, as well as radiographically to evaluate periapical healing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  None of the cases reported spontaneous pain at the six months follow up and the pulp showed signs of vitality and absence of periapical radiolucency. At 24 months, the clinical and radiographic success rate was 93% with evidence of continued root growth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pulp capping with MTA is recommended for teeth with carious pulp exposures specially immature teeth with high potential for healing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80209, Jeddah 21089, Saudi Arabia. N_Farsi@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Najat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Farsi
authors.forename: Najlaa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Alamoudi
authors.forename: Khalid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Balto
authors.forename: Abdullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al Mushayt
mesh_terms: D017607:Aluminum Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017610:Calcium Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000628:therapy; D003738:Dental Cements / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects; D003785:Dental Pulp Capping / Q000379:methods*; D003789:Dental Pulp Exposure / Q000628:therapy; D003791:Dental Pulp Test; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009805:Odontogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D010087:Oxides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011859:Radiography; D017640:Silicates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D017607:Aluminum Compounds; D017610:Calcium Compounds; D003738:Dental Cements; D004338:Drug Combinations; D010087:Oxides; D017640:Silicates; C086631:mineral trioxide aggregate