This randomized controlled clinical trial evaluated the effectiveness of using indirect pulp protection with calcium hydroxide liner or universal adhesive over a period of 6 months in deep caries on permanent teeth after selective removal to soft dentin. The sample consisted of 68 patients with 55 molars and 21 premolars with deep caries lesion (with radiographic involvement ≥50% dentin deep caries), (median age 27 [distribution 7-54 years]), with signs of pulp vitality (positive response to cold test, absence of spontaneous pain, negative sensitivity to percussion tests, absence of radiographic imaging suggestive of periapical lesion) and absence of cuspid loss. After selective removal to soft dentin, the test group received a universal adhesive (n=38), whereas the control group indirect pulp protection with Calcium hydroxide (n=38). All teeth were restored with composite resin. The successful outcome for pulp vitality was assessed after six months. The results were submitted to the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and the Log Rank test. The baseline variables were analyzed for their distribution in the two treatment groups by ᵪ2 test and showed a similarly distributed between groups. Success rates to pulp maintenance vitality were 95.5% for the control group and 96.7% for the test group (P=0,986). Two cases of failure were recorded, one pulp necrosis (control group) and one pulpitis (test group). There is no difference between the use of calcium hydroxide or only universal adhesive in indirect pulp protection after selective removal to soft dentine followed by composite restoration at six months of follow-up, showing a high rate of success for both treatments.
Cellular differentiation, bioactive and mechanical properties of experimental light-curing pulp protection materials
