title: Direct Pulp Capping with Calcium Hydroxide or Mineral Trioxide Aggregate: A Meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and calcium hydroxide (CH) as pulp capping materials in humans by means of a meta-analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Knowledge databases were used in the literature search from their establishment date until December 7, 2014. Studies that met the inclusion criteria were accepted, and necessary information was extracted by 2 authors independently using a standardized form. The success rate, inflammatory response, and dentin bridge formation were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria. There was no significant heterogeneity between studies, so a fixed-effects model was used. The MTA treatment groups showed a significantly higher success rate compared with CH-capped groups (randomized controlled trials: odds ratio [OR] = 2.26; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.33-3.85; P = .003; retrospective nonrandomized trials: OR = 2.88; 95% CI, 1.86-4.44; P < .00001). MTA was superior to CH in terms of the absence of an inflammatory response as well as dentin bridge formation, with the OR being 4.56 (95% CI, 2.65-7.83) and 3.56 (95% CI, 1.89-6.70), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MTA has a higher success rate and results in less pulpal inflammatory response and more predictable hard dentin bridge formation than CH. MTA appears to be a suitable replacement of CH used for direct pulp capping.
authors.affiliation: The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) and Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine of Ministry of Education (KLOBM), School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Zhaofei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) and Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine of Ministry of Education (KLOBM), School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Lihua
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) and Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine of Ministry of Education (KLOBM), School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Mingwen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) and Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine of Ministry of Education (KLOBM), School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Department of Endodontics, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China. Electronic address: xuqingan@whu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Qingan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D017607:Aluminum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D017610:Calcium Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000187:drug effects; D003785:Dental Pulp Capping / Q000379:methods*; D003809:Dentin, Secondary / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006801:Humans; D010087:Oxides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011671:Pulpitis / Q000139:chemically induced; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials; D017640:Silicates / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D017607:Aluminum Compounds; D017610:Calcium Compounds; D004338:Drug Combinations; D010087:Oxides; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials; D017640:Silicates; C086631:mineral trioxide aggregate; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide
keywords: Calcium hydroxide; direct pulp capping; meta-analysis; mineral trioxide aggregate