Effect of cutting speeds and a cavity liner on the pulpal response to Nobetec

The investigation was undertaken to determine the response to Nobetec, a modified zinc oxide-eugenol cement, widely used as a negative control material in pulpal studies, under conditions of high- and low-speed cavity preparation, with and without a cavity liner Dycal. The pulpal responses were evaluated at intervals of 2 days, 2 weeks and 8 weeks in the permanent maxillary and mandibular incisors in 26 vervet monkeys using labial Class V cavities prepared in 208 teeth. Nobetec was found to be more irritant to the dental pulp than Dycal although this difference was not statistically significant and the degree of irritation was low. The pulpal irritation caused by high- and low-speed cavity preparation was similar and choice of speed should be a matter of personal preference.