Ex-vivo study investigating modified pulp-capping glass-ionomers

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of incorporating bioactive glass into glass-ionomer cement (GIc) as a pulp-capping material using a human tooth-pulp culture model. Experimental groups included GIc mixed with three bioglasses (45S5, 45S5.5Zn, 45S5.5Sr), β-tricalcium phosphate (TCP), ProRoot MTA, or Biodentine powder. Capping with unmodified GIc and Biodentine served as controls. Pulpal healing was assessed via histology following a 28-day culture period. Fisher's exact tests determined differences in mineral foci formation and pulp-tissue organization (p<0.05). Initiation of pulp mineralization was observed only when pulps were capped with GIc_45S5 or Biodentine. While bioactive glass-modified GIcs demonstrated biocompatibility and promoted early pulpal healing (cell-rich eosinophilic zones), their mineralization potential remained lower than that of the calcium-silicate cement, Biodentine. These findings suggest that GIc_45S5 offers a potential preclinical alternative for pulp-capping, though its bioactivity requires further optimization.