This study evaluated the short-term response of human pulp tissue when directly capped with Portland cement. In this series of cases, twenty human third molars that were scheduled for extraction were used. After cavity preparation, pulp exposure was achieved and Portland cement pulp capping was performed. Teeth were extracted after 1, 7, 14 and 21 days following treatment and prepared for histological examination and bacterial detection. Each group had 5 teeth. The results were descriptively analysed. Dentin bridge formation was seen in two teeth with some distance from the material interface (14 and 21 days). Soft inflammatory responses were observed in most of the cases. Bacteria were not disclosed in any specimen. PC exhibited some features of biocompatibility and capability of inducing mineral pulp response in short-term evaluation. The results suggested that PC has a potential to be used as a less expensive pulp capping material in comparison to other pulp capping materials.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the pulpal response to direct pulp capping in healthy human teeth with Portland cement (PC) as against mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) as control.METHODS: Forty healthy human third molars indicated for extraction were randomly divided into two groups: PC and MTA. The teeth had iatrogenic pulp exposed and direct pulp capping with PC or MTA. After 1, 7, 14 and 21 days, the teeth were extracted and prepared for histological examination and bacterial detection. The Mann-Whitney test was applied for statistical analysis (p < 0.05).RESULTS: The MTA presented higher capacity to form of dentin bridges at 14- and 21-day intervals (p < 0.05). However, no significant statistical difference was found between the groups at all evaluated intervals (p > 0.05) for the response variables of inflammatory cells, soft tissue organization and bacterial staining.CONCLUSION: The PC has a biocompatibility equivalent to the MTA but with a lower capacity to form of dentin bridges. Therefore, MTA should be the material of choice for direct pulp capping.

Objetivo: Investigar o desempenho do cimento Portland quando utilizado como material odontológico. Método: Foi realizada uma pesquisa bibliográfica, a partir de artigos científicos publicados em periódicos nacionais e internacionais que se propuseram a avaliar as propriedades físicas, químicas e biológicas do produto, bem como sua ação antimicrobiana. Nos artigos selecionados, os autores empregaram métodos de investigação in vitro e in vivo para estudo do cimento, comparandoo com materiais consagrados na odontologia, com indicações clínicas semelhantes. Conclusão: De acordo com a bibliografia consultada foi possível comprovar a similaridade na composição química entre o CP e o MTA, sua efetividade no selamento das vias de comunicação entre o canal radicular e os tecidos periodontais, ação antimicrobiana satisfatória, além de exibir propriedades biológicas favoráveis, estimulando a deposição cementária e sendo indutor de resposta tecidual pulpar reparadora.

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