Histological evaluation of pulp response to alendronate and Biodentine as pulp capping agents: an animal study.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to comparatively assess the histological response of the pulp toward alendronate and Biodentine in a direct pulp capping procedure.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-four anterior teeth from 6 New Zealand rabbits were used in this study. Firstly, all rabbits were anesthetized according to their weight. Class V cavities were prepared on the buccal surfaces of anterior teeth. A pin-point exposure of the pulp was then made using a small, sterile round carbide bur and bleeding was arrested with a saline-soaked, sterile cotton pellet. The teeth under study were divided into 2 groups ( = 12). The intentionally exposed pulp was capped with alendronate (Group 1) and Biodentine (Group 2), correspondingly. After 30 days, all rabbits were euthanized; the teeth under study were extracted and taken up for histological analysis.

RESULTS

Biodentine showed an intact, very dense dentin bridge formation with a uniform odontoblast (OD) layer pattern and mild or absent inflammatory response whereas specimens capped with alendronate demonstrated a dense dentin bridge formation with non-uniform OD layer pattern and mild to moderate inflammatory response.

CONCLUSIONS

Biodentine showed more biocompatibility than alendronate. However, alendronate can initiate reparative dentin formation and may be used as an alternative pulp capping agent.