title: Clinical and radiological evaluation of calcium sulfate as direct pulp capping material in primary teeth.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical and radiological response of primary molars to direct pulp capping with calcium sulfate hemihydrate.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty primary molar teeth in 40 healthy children aged 5-9 years were treated by direct pulp capping. Teeth were randomly assigned to two groups (n=20) according to material used for capping, as follows: Group 1: calcium hydroxide cement (Dycal); Group 2: calcium sulfate hemihydrate (Dentogen). All teeth were restored with a conventional glass ionomer base (Fuji IX) and amalgam.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 12 months, the overall success rate of direct pulp capping was approximately 75% (24/32 teeth, excluding exfoliations). The success rate did not differ significantly between calcium hydroxide and calcium sulfate hemihydrate treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Calcium sulfate hemihydrate was found to be as successful as calcium hydroxide for direct pulp capping of primary molars with Class I cavities. Further histological studies are needed to support these findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pedodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, 19 Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey.
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Ulusoy
authors.affiliation: Department of Pedodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, 19 Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bayrak
authors.affiliation: Department of Pedodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, 19 Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey.
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Bodrumlu
mesh_terms: D002133:Calcium Sulfate; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003785:Dental Pulp Capping; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D057872:Pulp Capping and Pulpectomy Agents; D011861:Radiography, Dental; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous
chemical_list: D057872:Pulp Capping and Pulpectomy Agents; D002133:Calcium Sulfate