Pulp reactions in human teeth to tooth colored filling materials

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Dentistry
• Dental Materials Science
• Oral Histology

Background:

• Dental caries management in children requires effective and biocompatible filling materials.
• Understanding the pulpal response to various restorative materials is crucial for long-term tooth preservation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To histologically evaluate the pulpal tissue response to three different dental filling materials in children's premolars.
• To assess the influence of remaining dentin thickness on the observed pulpal reactions.

Main Methods:

• Ninety-eight cavities were prepared in 49 premolars from children aged 9-15 years.
• Cavities were filled with Silicap, Sevriton Simplified, or Adddent XV, with teeth extracted at 2 weeks and 6 months for histological analysis.
• Histological parameters included odontoblast count, inflammation, necrosis, tertiary dentin, and bacteria.

Main Results:

• After 2 weeks, odontoblast loss and inflammation were common; necrosis occurred in some cases. After 6 months, odontoblast loss increased slightly, inflammation decreased, and tertiary dentin formed under most fillings.
• The three materials elicited similar pulpal responses.
• Remaining dentin thickness significantly influenced inflammation and tertiary dentin formation for specific materials.

Conclusions:

• Silicap, Sevriton Simplified, and Adddent XV demonstrate comparable biocompatibility and pulpal tissue responses in pediatric premolars.
• Remaining dentin thickness is a key factor modulating the host's response to dental restorative materials.