Direct pulp capping procedures - Evidence and practice

Rafiqul Islam; Md Refat Readul Islam; Toru Tanaka; Mohammad Khursheed Alam; Hany Mohamed Aly Ahmed; Hidehiko Sano

doi:10.1016/j.jdsr.2023.02.002

Direct pulp capping procedures - Evidence and practice

Jpn Dent Sci Rev. 2023 Dec:59:48-61. doi: 10.1016/j.jdsr.2023.02.002. Epub 2023 Feb 26.

Authors

Rafiqul Islam¹, Md Refat Readul Islam², Toru Tanaka¹, Mohammad Khursheed Alam³, Hany Mohamed Aly Ahmed⁴, Hidehiko Sano¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 13, Nishi 7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-8586, Japan.
² Department of Restorative Dentistry, Graduate School of Dental Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 13, Nishi 7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-8586, Japan.
³ Preventive Dentistry Department, College of Dentistry, Jouf University, 72345 Sakaka, Saudi Arabia.
⁴ Department of Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Abstract

The aim of direct pulp capping (DPC) is to promote pulp healing and mineralized tissue barrier formation by placing a dental biomaterial directly over the exposed pulp. Successful application of this approach avoids the need for further and more extensive treatment. In order to ensure a complete pulp healing with the placement of restorative materials, a mineralized tissue barrier must form to protect the pulp from microbial invasion. The formation of mineralized tissue barrier can only be induced when there is a significant reduction in pulp inflammation and infection. Consequently, promoting the healing of pulp inflammation may provide a favorable therapeutic opportunity to maintain the sustainability of DPC treatment. Mineralized tissue formation was observed as the favorable reaction of exposed pulp tissue against a variety of dental biomaterials utilized for DPC. This observation reveals an intrinsic capacity of pulp tissue for healing. Therefore, this review focuses on the DPC and its healing procedure as well as the materials used for DPC treatment and their mechanisms of action to promote pulpal healing. In addition, the factors that can affect the healing process of DPC, clinical considerations and future perspective has been described.

Keywords: Bioceramics; Calcium hydroxide; Direct pulp capping; Mineral trioxide aggregate; Pulp capping materials; Vital pulp therapy.

Publication types

Review