Differences in Pulp Cell Inflammation and Dentinal Bridge Formation Between Carbonate Apatite and Calcium Hydroxide After Direct Pulp Capping on Wistar Rat Maxillary First Molar

Abstract

Calcium hydroxide is the gold standard of dental materials used to repair exposed pulp. This research intends to observe carbonate apatite (®Gama-cha) which may be used as an alternative material in direct pulp capping treatment. The purpose of this study is to analyze the differences in pulp cell inflammation and dentinal bridge formation between carbonate apatite and calcium hydroxide after direct pulp capping was performed on the maxillary first molars of Wistar rats at 2, 4 and 6 weeks observation. The research is in post-only control group design. 60 rats were divided into 4 groups, consists of the treatment group that was given carbonate apatite (®Gama-cha) and carbonate apatite+ZOE group, positive control (Ca(OH)2) and negative control group. For every one rat, it was used 2 upper first molars, so that for each group it was performed on 30 rat's molars and filled with GIC and observed for 2, 4, and 6 weeks. The tooth selection technique was random. The results showed that inflammation decreased from 2 weeks to 6 weeks and the treatment and positive groups were not significantly different. Odontoblast cells and dentinal bridge were not formed in the 2-week study. There was no significant difference between the treatment group and the positive control group in the 4 and 6 week study for the dentinal bridge category. It can be concluded that the carbonate apatite material is quite potential in the direct pulp capping treatment.