To Evaluate The Usefulness of New Hydroxyapatite and Other Materials as A Pulp Cap ping Agent

Abstract

To evaluate the usefulness of new hydroxyapatite(HAP), HAP+CaCO₃andHAP+β-TCP as a pulp capping agent, comparisons with a calcium hydroxide agent (calvital®) and formocresol, which are generally used for pulpotomy, were performed. After pulpotomy in rat molars using each material, the degree of the formation of dentin-like hard tissue and inflammatory changes in the pulp tissue were examined micro CT radiographically and histopathology. It was found that the hard tissue formation beneath the sectioned pulp surface was most marked in the calvital group, and the hard tissue for the formation was marked only HAP + CaCO₃ in the HAP group. However, the HAP group developed no necrotic layers, and inflammation improved at an earlier stage. Our experiments suggested that HAP can be a good pulp capping agent, since pulp irritation was lower with HAP than with calvital® and formocresol. Moremore, HAP +CaCO₃ which developed as hard tissue formation beneath the sectioned pulp surface was marked somewhat.