title: Pulpal Responses to Direct Capping with Betamethasone/Gentamicin Cream and Mineral Trioxide Aggregate: Histologic and Micro-Computed Tomography Assessments.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the response of human dental pulp to direct capping with betamethasone/gentamicin (BG) cream and mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA). We hypothesized that the results of direct pulp capping with a topical BG combination would be similar to or better than those with MTA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six human first premolar teeth scheduled for orthodontic extraction were randomly divided into 4 groups: BG1 group (n = 9), BG cream with 2-week follow-up; BG2 group (n = 10), BG cream with 8-week follow-up; MTA1 group (n = 8), MTA with 2-week follow-up; and MTA2 group (n = 9), MTA with 8-week follow-up. Teeth were extracted and evaluated at respective time intervals. Micro-computed tomography scanning and histologic analyses were performed for all specimens. Pulp pathology (inflammation, pulp abscesses, and pulp necrosis) and reparative reaction (formation of dentin bridges) were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both BG cream and MTA resulted in significantly better pulpal responses at 8 weeks than at 2 weeks. Dentin bridge formation was significantly thicker in the MTA group at 8 weeks than in any other group (P < .05). Inflammation was of the acute type in all groups; no statistically significant differences in the distribution of inflammatory cells were found among the groups. Pulpal abscesses and/or necrosis were observed more often in teeth capped with BG than with MTA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Direct pulp capping with both BG cream and MTA was associated with dentin bridge formation. MTA resulted in a significantly better pulpal response, with less inflammation and a thicker dentin bridge at 8 weeks.
authors.affiliation: Endodontic Division, Restorative Dental Sciences Department, College of Dentistry, University of Dammam, Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: ealshwaimi@uod.edu.sa.
authors.forename: Emad
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: AlShwaimi
authors.affiliation: Endodontic Division, Restorative Dental Sciences Department, College of Dentistry, University of Dammam, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Abdul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Majeed
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Dental Sciences Department, College of Dentistry, University of Dammam, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Aiman A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Ali
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017607:Aluminum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017610:Calcium Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003785:Dental Pulp Capping / Q000379:methods*; D003789:Dental Pulp Exposure / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010087:Oxides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D057872:Pulp Capping and Pulpectomy Agents; D017640:Silicates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography
chemical_list: D017607:Aluminum Compounds; D017610:Calcium Compounds; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005839:Gentamicins; D010087:Oxides; D057872:Pulp Capping and Pulpectomy Agents; D017640:Silicates; C086631:mineral trioxide aggregate; D001623:Betamethasone
keywords: Betamethasone/gentamicin cream; clinical trial; dentin bridge; direct pulp capping; mineral trioxide aggregate