Traditionally calcium hydroxide has been used as a pulp capping material and dentine replacement was performed using glass ionomers or other materials to replace the dentine in bulk. The main shortcoming with the use of calcium hydroxide as pulp capping material is the material inherent weakness and solubility. The material is water-based and thus it cannot be etched and bonded making restoration with resin composites difficult. Newer materials have been developed which are either resin-based and thus light curable or water-based with enhanced characteristics. These materials are easier to use and are can potentially replace the calcium hydroxide as a pulp capping material. This lecture will look at the classical pulp capping methodology and the newer hydraulic calcium silicate cements used for pulp capping.
Objectives
- Update on new materials on the market
- Learn on the effectiveness of these materials for indicated procedures
- Learn on the choice of restorative materials to layer the pulp capping materials