[Acute effect of calcium hydroxide-containing material in the rat's dental pulp microcirculation]

Experimental stimulation and clinical procedures applied on the crown of the tooth cause vascular reaction in the dental pulp. Laser-Doppler flowmetry is a good method for determining the blood flow of the dental pulp. The aim of these experiments was to study the acute effect of a calcium hydroxide-containing pulp-capping material (Dycal, DeTrey) on blood flow of the dental pulp after the application into a deep test-cavity. Two groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats (308 g +/- 50 S.E.) were used: control- and test-group, n = 10. A standardised deep class five cavity was prepared in the left lower incisor of each rat. Laser-Doppler flowmeter was used to measure the vascular reaction of the pulp. The levels of blood flow were recorded prior to (0 min.) and after the application (1, 5, 15, 30, 60 min.) of Dycal. Results were evaluated with one-way ANOVA. Significantly higher pulpal blood flow was found only in the first minute after the application of Dycal. In any other time no significant difference was found between the results before and after (5, 15, 30, 60 min.) the application in test- and control-group.