Abstract
This study was conducted on young dogs to investigate the pulpal response caused by posterior composite resin restorations using either enamel or total etching.
Histopathological changes in the pulp were examined from three to thirty five days after filling.
The findings were as follows:
1) In this experiment the remaining dentin thickness variedin thickness. There was little difference in the pulp response throughout the whole observation period regardless of the remaining dentin thickness.
2) The enamel etching and total etching groups showed slightly greater pulpal responses before seven days after filling, but the slight inflammatory changes decreased after seven days after filling in both groups. After fourteen days, the inflammatory changes disappeared and the restorative dentin formation was observed.
3) Pulpal response due to irritation by etching was slight. Also there was no great difference between enamel etching and total etching. The inflammatory changes were slight and disappeared at an early stage. The restorative dentin was formed with a minute structure. Composite resin (Clearfil-Posterior) was slightly irritative to the pulp of the primary teeth, but it was presumed that its pulpal responsewas not so severe as to cause damage to the pulp.
