A COMPARATIVE STUDY TO DETERMINE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MINERAL TRIOXIDE AGGREGATE AND BIODENTINE IN DIRECT PULP CAPPING

Background: In invasive dentistry, direct pulp capping (DPC) procedure with a reliable biomaterial may be considered as an alternative provided the pulp status is favorable. Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), a bioactive cement has excellent sealing ability and biocompatibility is capable of regenerating relatively damaged pulp and formation of dentin bridge when used as DPC agent. Biodentine is comparatively a new biomaterial, claimed to have properties comparable to MTA and is currently explored for vital pulp therapy procedures. Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of MTA and biodentine as a direct pulp capping agent and clinical response of material on the bases of post-operative pain and development of periapical radiolucency after DPC with MTA and biodentine in carious teeth. Study Design: A cross sectional study was conducted in the Department of Operative Dentistry, Rawal Institute of Dental Health Sciences Islamabad for six months from June 2019 to December, 2019. Material and Methods: Twenty-four permanent molars with carious exposure having no signs and symptoms of irreversible pulpitis were selected and assigned to one of the two groups, Group I MTA and Group II biodentine. Patients were recalled at 3 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months for clinical evaluation. Fisher's exact test was used along with Chi-square test for statistical analysis. Results: Over a period of 6 months, MTA and biodentine showed 91.7% and 83.3% success rate, respectively, based on the subject’s symptoms, pulp sensibility tests, post-operative pain development of any periapical radiolucency. Conclusion: MTA and biodentine may be used as DPC agents when the pulpal diagnosis is not more than reversible