Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess and compare, in primary pig teeth, the pulp response after a pulpotomy using either Biodentine (a new tricalcium-silicate cement), white mineral trioxide aggregate (WMTA), or formocresol (FC) and repeat the same after direct pulp capping using either Biodentine, WMTA, or calcium hydroxide.
Methods: A total of 180 primary teeth from 9 healthy 4-month-old female pigs were divided into 3 experimental periods (7, 28, and 90 days) for each material used for the pulpotomy and direct pulp capping treatments. Seven, 28, and 90 days later, the animals were euthanized and the specimens were prepared for histological examination and evaluation. The data collected from the histological examinations were statistically analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn multiple comparison tests.
Results: In pulpotomy groups, there was a significant difference between Biodentine and WMTA vs FC in terms of inflammatory cell response and hard tissue formation. In direct pulp capping groups, there was only a significant difference between Biodentine and calcium hydroxide in terms of hard tissue formation in a 7-day period.
Conclusions: Biodentine and white mineral trioxide aggregate are both suitable, biocompatible materials for pulp capping in primary teeth of pigs.