Introduction to Restorations, Luting and Pulp Therapy

1.Pulp capping agents

Introduction to Restorations, Luting and Pulp Therapy

Crieria for pulp capping:
● The pulp should be healthy and noninfected
● The area of exposure should be no more than 0.5 mm.
● Following exposure the dentist should make all attempts to immediately isolate the tooth
and prevent contamination.

Pulp capping agents are:

1. Calcium hydroxide: This is one of the most traditional and widely used pulp capping
agents. It promotes the formation of dentin and has antimicrobial properties.
2. Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA): MTA is a bioactive material that has gained popularity
in recent years due to its excellent sealing ability and biocompatibility. It can stimulate
the formation of a dentin bridge and has antimicrobial properties.
3. Biodentine: Biodentine is a newer calcium silicate-based cement similar to MTA. It has
similar properties to MTA and can be used as a pulp capping agent.
4. Resin-modified glass ionomer cement (RMGIC): RMGICs have adhesive properties and
release fluoride, which can help with remineralization. They are often used as pulp
capping agents, especially in pediatric dentistry.
2.Bases and liners

Properties:
Thermal properties: The base must provide thermal protection to the pulp. This property is
important especially when the tooth is restored with metallic restorations.
Protection against chemical insults: The cement base also serves as a barrier against
penetration of irritating constituents (e.g. acids, monomer, etc.) from restorative materials
Therapeutic effect: Some bases are used for their therapeutic benefit to the pulp. For example,
calcium hydroxide acts as a pulp capping agent and promotes the formation of secondary
dentin.
Strength: The cement base must have sufficient strength to Withstand the forces of
condensation and mastication
Cavity liners:

Uses :
3. Cavity varnish
 Dental cements
GIC
Zn phosphate
Zn polycarbo
Zn eugenol
Non eugeno

Zinc phosphate cement:

Zinc phosphate is the oldest of the luting cements and thus serves as a standard with which
newer cements can be compared. The terms ‘Crown and Bridge’ and ‘Zinc Oxyphosphate’ have
also been used for this cement.
ZINC POLYCARBOXYLATE CEMENT
Canadian biochemist Smith developed the first polycarboxylate cement in 1968 by substituting
the phosphoric acid of zinc phosphate cement with polyacrylic acid. Polycarboxylate became
the first cement system developed with potential for adhesion to tooth structure.
 \

Zinc oxide eugenol cement

These cements have been used extensively in dentistry since the 1890s. Depending on their
use they vary widely in their properties. In general, they are cements of low strength. They are
the least irritating of all dental cements and are known to have an obtundant (sedative) effect on
exposed dentin.
Uses: