Abstract
Introduction: This research paper focuses on whether the light curing pulp capping materials had actual improvements, preserving the advantages of Ca(OH)2. We thus observed the emission of Ca+ and P element and maintenance of high pH level, which are the advantageous properties of Ca(OH)2, measured the solubility to find out whether the problems were solved, and experimented microleakage, one of the most significant properties as a restoration material. Materials and Methods: Four pulp capping materials (Dycal, Ionosit, Lime-lite, Ultrablend plus) used in the study. The main component of Ionosit (DMG, Germany) is glass ionomer. Ion releasing (Ca and P ions) was measured with ICP-OES (Optima 4300 DV, Perkin-Elmer, USA) to detect the ion emission. Solubility test was performed with vacuum oven and electrical balance. Ion releasing and solubility test was conducted every week for the first five weeks and then after 30 days. The pH was measured in two groups. In the first group (C-group), deionized water was changed for fixed intervals, and in the second group (NC-group), deionized water was not changed from the beginning to end of measurement. Every specimen was measured its pH level on fixed intervals of 15 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, 5 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, 48hours, 3 days, 4 days, 5 days, 6 days, 7 days, 14 days and 21 days. Microleakage test also performed. Results: The experimental groups of light curing pulp capping materials have less Ca2+ emission compared to Ca(OH)2 paste. (Lime-lite, Ionosit: 1% of Dycal, Ultrablend: 20% of Dycal). Ultrablend had the most amount of emission among the light curing pulp capping materials (50 times more than other materials). Phosphorous ion was emitted in small amount from Ultrablend and Lime-lite and not emitted at all from Ionosit and Dycal. Ultrablend had the most amount of emission. Ca(OH)2 paste had substantially high rate of pH (11-12) and maintained it constantly. Ultrablend turned out to have the highest level of pH (8-9) among the light curing pulp capping materials. Solubility of the light curing pulp capping materials was very low. Ultrablend had solubility of 2-3 % and Lime-lite and Ionosit rarely had any degree of solubility. Microleakage in the inferior surface of composite resin appeared frequently in all the light curing pulp capping materials. The process of acid etching did not affect the result of microleakage. The inferior surface of composite resin had rather better results without acid etching. Conclusions: Ultrablend is expected to perform excellently as a pulp capping materials if only the problem of microleakage observed in the inferior surface of composite resin is solved.
