Pulp reactions to resin cements

Several formulas of a resin-filled cement that successfully passed a series of laboratory tests were evaluated for their pulp reactions in primates. Their performance was compared to three controls: a positive control (silicate cement), a negative control (zinc oxide-eugenol) and a control group with the protection of calcium hydroxide. The chemical cure resin cement scored the lowest reactions for the 5-day evaluation. The intermediate and prolonged periods demonstrated no significant differences while average, acceptable responses were recorded. No resin cement formula scored as low as the negative control for the three time periods. Silicate cement, the positive control, scored the greatest inflammatory reaction of any material in the intermediate period, but this response was resolved after 60 days. When the resin cements were used with calcium hydroxide, the traditional reactions to calcium hydroxide were observed; an initial mild irritation that diminished with time and was completely resolved after 60 days. The resin cements, with or without the calcium hydroxide, compared favorably to the negative control IRM after 60 days. If the resin cements are appropriately applied, they are expected to be well tolerated by the human pulp. The microorganisms associated with microleakage (MLM) were minimal and there appeared to be no correlation between the MLM and pulp inflammation.