Using mineral trioxide aggregate as a pulp-capping material.

This study examined the dental pulp responses in monkeys to mineral trioxide aggregate, or MTA, and a calcium hydroxide preparation when used as pulp-capping materials. After the pulps of 12 mandibular incisors were exposed with a No. 1 round bur, they were capped with either MTA or the calcium hydroxide preparation. After five months, the authors noted no pulpal inflammation in five of six samples capped with MTA, and all six pulps in this group had a complete dentin bridge. In contrast, all of the pulps capped with the calcium hydroxide preparation showed pulpal inflammation, and bridge formation occurred in only two samples. Based on these results, it appears that MTA has the potential to be used as a pulp-capping material during vital pulp therapy.