A Comparison of Selected Regenerative Materials Used in the Management of Pulp Diseases – Review of the Literature

Abstract

The authors present a group of regenerative materials recommended for the treatment of deep caries, pulp exposure, endodontic treatment of immature teeth involving apexogenesis and apexification, and management of internal resorption and chronic periapical inflammations. Biomaterials which demonstrate biocompatibility, expressed by direct integration with dentine on a molecular level, also stimulate the formation of secondary and reparative dentine by odontoblasts. Calcium hydroxide is the oldest and has been the most widely used biomaterial since the 19 th century. However, due to some inconveniences experienced during treatment with this material, modern odontotropic materials like Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA) or Biodentine are more frequently and more preferably used. New materials like MTA and Biodentine make it possible to develop new protocols of treatment and create opportunities for their successful results. Biodentine, in comparison with MTA, seems to be easier to prepare and apply, with a much shorter setting time. However it should be emphasized that observations of the performance of these new regenerative materials are relatively limited, so further research is required to confirm their long term performance and usefulness and to formulate reliable conclusions (Dent. Med. Probl. 2015, 52, 4, 485-490).