Pesq Odont Bras v. 14, n. 1, p. 47-52, jan./mar. 2000. Pulpal response of dogs primary teeth to an adhesive system or to a calcium hydroxide cement Resposta pulpar de dentes decíduos de cães a um sistema adesivo ou ao cimento de hidróxido de cálcio Rosângela Almeida RIBEIRO* Silvio Issáo MYAKI** Marco Antônio GIOSO*** Ney Soares de ARAÚJO**** RIBEIRO, R. A.; MYAKI, S. I.; GIOSO, M. A.; ARAÚJO, N. S. Pulpal response of dogs primary teeth to an adhesive sys- tem or to a calcium hydroxide cement. Pesq Odont Bras, v. 14, n. 1, p. 47-52, jan./mar. 2000. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pulpal response of dogs primary teeth to an adhesive system or to a calcium hidroxide cement after mechanic exposure of the pulp. Three mongrel dogs were used and ten class V cavities were prepared on their teeth. A mechanic pulp exposure was produced with a sterile exploratory probe in the central portion of each cavity and bleeding was controlled with dry sterile cotton pellets. Enamel, dentin and the site of the pulp expo- sure of five teeth were etched with 35% phosphoric acid followed by the application of an adhesive system (Scotchbond Multi-Purpose - 3M). In the other five teeth, calcium hydroxide cement (Hydro C - Dentsply) was applied on the site of the pulp exposition before application of the adhesive system (Scotchbond Multi-Purpose - 3M). All teeth were restored with a resin composite (Z-100 - 3M). After 7, 30 or 45 days the dogs were anesthetized and perfused with saline fol- lowed by a solution of neutral buffered formalin. Maxilla and mandible were sectioned into three parts and placed in a solution for demineralization. Following bone demineralization, all teeth were cut, trimmed, embedded in paraffin and longitudinally cut. Then, the teeth were stained with hematoxilin and eosin and observed under a light microscope. The results obtained with the treatments proposed in this study showed the presence and persistence of an inflamma- tory response of different intensities at the three experimental periods. There was no variation in the inflammatory re- sponse regarding the different treatments performed. UNITERMS: Dental pulp; Adhesive system; Calcium hydroxide; Primary tooth. INTRODUCTION Direct pulp capping of primary teeth has been widely discussed for many years. It is expected that after pulp exposure, the direct application of an appropriate material promotes deposition of a mineralized dentin bridge and maintains pulp vitality15. This procedure is usually performed with cal- cium hydroxide formulations, which have bacteri- cidal effect, but histological investigations have also reported a necrotic zone near this material. In other cases, a reparative dentin is formed under calcium hydroxide formulations and a bridge of dentin closes the pulp exposure12. However, depo- sition of hard tissue does not seem to be an exclusive property of those dental materials with calcium hydroxide in their compositions. Results obtained by COX et al. 4 have suggested that nei- ther Ca(OH)2 or hydroxil ion nor the pH of the uti- lized material are necessary for the initiation of pulp healing or reparation of the affected area with hard tissue. HANKS et al. 6 have suggested that this phenomenon seems to be a natural response of the pulp when it is exposed to an irritation of low in- tensity. COX et al. 5 demonstrated that a statisti- cally significant number of dentin bridges contain multiple tunnel defects, which communicate with the pulp. This kind of dentin bridge fails to provide 47 Endodontia * Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Juiz de Fora. ** Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, São Paulo State University (UNESP) - São José dos Campos. *** Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery Technique; **** Professor and Chair, Department of Oral Pathology - School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo. a hermetic sealing for the underlying pulp and microleakage in this region may be the cause of re- current pulp infections. The authors have empha- sized the necessity of employing biologically rele- vant measures for providing a sealing of long-term at restorations margins. Medicaments composed of calcium hydroxide only are not able to avoid microleakage after direct pulp capping. In reality, the biocompatibility of dental materi- als is related with their capacity of avoiding pene- tration of bacteria at the tooth-restoration inter- face. This situation is achieved when the new adhesive systems are used and the hybrid layer is formed between dentin and restorative material. For this reason, it has been suggested that in per- manent teeth, the direct pulp capping should be done with an adhesive system1,7,8,9,11,14. Nevertheless, there are few reports concerning the indication of this technique for primary teeth. Thus, after a mechanic pulp exposure, this study evaluated the histological response of the pulp tis- sue of primary teeth of dogs to an adhesive system or to calcium hydroxide cement. MATERIALS AND METHODS The sample of this study was composed of thirty maxillary or mandibular primary teeth of three mongrel dogs that weighed 2.0 kg and were from 45 to 60-days-old. The animals were divided into Groups I, II and III, according to the experimental periods of 7, 30 and 45 days, respectively. In each group, teeth were selected to be treated either with the total etching technique or with calcium hy- droxide firstly applied as a liner. All treatments were carried out under general anesthesia at the School of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechny, University of São Paulo, Brazil. The teeth were cleaned with a solution of 2% chlorexidine, and ten class V cavities were pre- pared on their facial surfaces. Then, a sterile ex- ploratory probe was used for creating a pulp expo- sure on the central portion of each cavity. The pulp exposure had a diameter of about 0.5 mm, and bleeding was controlled by dry sterile cotton pel- lets. In each animal, ten prepared cavities were di- vided in two groups according to the proposed treatment. Enamel, dentin, and pulpal tissue of five cavities were etched with 35% phosphoric acid for 15 seconds, rinsed thoroughly and air dried for 2 seconds to remove water excess, though leaving a moist dentin. Primer and adhesive (Scotchbond Multi-Purpose - 3M) were applied and light cured for 20 seconds. The other five teeth received a layer of calcium hydroxide cement (Hydro C - Dentsply) on the pulp exposition before the application of the adhesive system. All teeth were restored with resin compos- ite (Z-100 - 3M) and light cured for 40 seconds with a curing unit (Optilux 150 - Demetron) with light intensity of 500 mW/cm2. Restorations were pol- ished with low-speed polishing cups and points (Enhance - Dentsply). Then, all restorations were etched and an unfilled resin (Fortify - Bisco) was applied and light cured for 20 seconds. At the time intervals of 7, 30 or 45 days, the ani- mals were anesthetized and perfused with saline followed by a solution of neutral buffered formalin. Maxilla and mandible were sectioned into three parts and placed in 10% formalin solution and then in another solution for demineralization. Fol- lowing bone demineralization, all teeth were trimmed, embedded in paraffin an cut longitudi- nally to obtain semi-serial sections of 7 µm. The specimens were stained with H & E (hematoxylin and eosin) and examined under a light microscope. Histopathological analysis evaluated the pres- ence or absence of pulp inflammation, its exten- sion and intensity as well as the presence or ab- sence of reparative dentin. The histopathological evaluation of the specimens was done in a blind test since they were not marked with the per- formed treatment, and it was carried out by only one author (N. S. A.). RESULTS Seven days after treatment, the specimens from Group I, treated by total etching technique, showed an inflammatory infiltrate that affected most of the pulp tissue with marked presence of mononuclear cells (Figure 1). Some specimens also had polymorphonuclear cells, neutrophils, leuko- cytes and microabscesses. In those specimens treated with calcium hydroxide, there was a mild chronic inflammatory infiltrate at the exposure site only (Figure 2), and fibroblast proliferation could also be observed. One of the specimens showed an outline of mineralization next to the original site of the exposure, which had a structure similar to a dentin bridge. After 30 days, the specimens of Group II, that had been treated by the total etching technique, 48 RIBEIRO, R. A.; MYAKI, S. I.; GIOSO, M. A.; ARAÚJO, N. S. Pulpal response of dogs primary teeth to an adhesive system or to a cal- cium hydroxide cement. Pesq Odont Bras, v. 14, n. 1, p. 47-52, jan./mar. 2000. showed an intensive mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate. Disorganization of the pulp structure and microabscesses could be noticed (Figure 3). On the other hand, the specimens treated with calcium hydroxide exhibited a more discrete infil- trate of chronic inflammatory cells and preserva- tion of pulp vitality (Figure 4). However, two speci- mens of this group also presented a more intensive inflammatory response. After 45 days, specimens from Group III, treated by total etching technique, exhibited a per- sistent inflammatory infiltrate which varied from discrete to moderate-severe. There was mainte- nance of the pulp structure and an apparent via- bility of odontoblasts (Figure 5). Two specimens that had received calcium hydroxide as a liner showed persistent inflammatory infiltrate in al- most the totality of pulp tissue. In one of them, 49 RIBEIRO, R. A.; MYAKI, S. I.; GIOSO, M. A.; ARAÚJO, N. S. Pulpal response of dogs primary teeth to an adhesive system or to a cal- cium hydroxide cement. Pesq Odont Bras, v. 14, n. 1, p. 47-52, jan./mar. 2000. FIGURE 1 - Tooth treated with total etching technique, 7-day-period. Intense inflammatory infiltrate under exposure extending to the remaining pulp tissue (hematoxylin and eosin; original magnification X 40). FIGURE 2 - Tooth treated with Ca(OH)2, 7-day-period. Moderate inflammatory response under pulp exposure (hematoxylin and eosin; original magnification X 40). FIGURE 4 - Tooth treated with Ca(OH)2, 30-day-period. Moderate mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate with preservation of pulp tissue including odontoblasts (hematoxylin and eosin; original magnification X 400). FIGURE 3 - Tooth treated with total etching technique, 30-day-period. Intense mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate within disorganized pulp tissue (hematoxylin and eosin; original magnification X 400). mononuclear cells were evident and, in the other one, neutrophils were present. Other specimens treated with calcium hydroxide exhibited the nor- mal characteristics of pulp tissue (Figure 6). DISCUSSION In the present study the exposed pulp of pri- mary teeth of dogs were histopathologically evalu- ated. This procedure was accomplished either af- ter the application of 35% phosphoric acid or calcium hydroxide cement on the pulp exposition. The inflammatory infiltrate at the seventh day was more intensive and extensive in those teeth treated with the total etching technique. After 30 days, these specimens still exhibited an intensive inflammatory infiltrate. However, two specimens treated with calcium hydroxide did not present an evidently different response when they were com- pared with those specimens treated with the total etching technique. There was a clear variation of the pulp infiltrate after 45 days, for both treatments. Pulps of two specimens treated with the total etching technique exhibited normal characteristics and, in the other ones, a mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate was present. Regarding the treatment with calcium hy- droxide, pulps of two specimens exhibited normal aspects. However, in the other specimens an in- flammatory infiltrate either with mononuclear cells or neutrophils could be observed. These observations have demonstrated a vari- ety of responses from the pulp tissue to both treat- ments, and that could be associated with deep maceration of the pulp and with the inclusion of dentin chips and medicaments into the pulp dur- ing its mechanic exposure. It is relatively common when standardized clinical exposures are made15. When the total etching technique was per- formed, the histopathological characteristics ob- served in this study were similar to those reported by ARAÚJO et al. 2 for human primary teeth. In this study, despite the excellent clinical and radio- graphic results, the histopathological analysis showed that this technique is not able to promote a calcified dentin bridge at the site of pulp exposi- tion. COX et al. 4 have demonstrated that bacterial penetration at the tooth-restoration interface is the main cause of pulp injuries. Thus, a perfect sealing of such interface avoids bacterial penetra- tion and is a basic condition for maintenance of pulp vitality13. The hybrid layer is formed after removal of the smear layer by the adhesive system and it is re- sponsible for linking the deeper undermineralized dentin and the composite restorative material16. In this way, formation of the hybrid layer has a clini- cal significance because it provides an effective sealing at the tooth-restoration interface and pre- vents bacterial penetration through it. Recent studies have shown that the hybrid layer can be formed not only in permanent teeth but also in primary ones3,10. Nevertheless, the re- sults of this study may be a reflection of an imper- fect formation of the hybrid layer, since it was per- formed on dogs and not on human beings. The results found for both treatments showed 50 RIBEIRO, R. A.; MYAKI, S. I.; GIOSO, M. A.; ARAÚJO, N. S. Pulpal response of dogs primary teeth to an adhesive system or to a cal- cium hydroxide cement. Pesq Odont Bras, v. 14, n. 1, p. 47-52, jan./mar. 2000. FIGURE 5 - Tooth treated with total etching technique, 45-day-period. Scattered inflammatory mononuclear cells are present in the pulp tissue, which shows viable odontoblasts (hematoxylin and eosin; original magnification X 100). FIGURE 6 - Tooth treated with Ca(OH)2, 45-day-period. Pulp tissue exhibiting normal characteristics (hema- toxylin and eosin; original magnification X 100). the presence of a persistent inflammatory infiltrate which had different intensities in the different ex- perimental periods. Under the experimental condi- tions of this study, there was no difference be- tween the proposed treatments. These findings give support to recommend further studies on this subject, utilizing a greater sample in order to pro- vide more conclusive results. CONCLUSIONS Based on the results of this study, it could be concluded that: • Group I (results after seven days of observa- tion): the specimens treated with the total etch- ing technique exhibited more extensive and in- tensive pulp inflammatory response than that observed in those teeth treated with calcium hydroxide. • Group II (results after thirty days of observa- tion): in the specimens treated with the total etching technique, the pulpal inflammatory re- sponse, observed at that moment, was still more intensive and extensive than the one pres- ent in the specimens treated with calcium hy- droxide. • Group III (results after forty five days of obser- vations): there was a large variation of pulpal reaction for both treatments performed. It var- ied from normal pulp tissue to a persistent in- flammatory infiltrate. RIBEIRO, R. A.; MYAKI, S. I.; GIOSO, M. A.; ARAÚJO, N. S. Resposta pulpar de dentes decíduos de cães a um sistema adesivo ou ao cimento de hidróxido de cálcio. Pesq Odont Bras, v. 14, n. 1, p. 47-52, jan./mar. 2000. O objetivo deste estudo foi de avaliar a resposta pulpar de dentes decíduos de cães à um sistema adesivo ou a um ci- mento de hidróxido de cálcio após exposição mecânica da polpa. Foram utilizados três cães sem raça definida, e nestes foram realizados dez preparos cavitários classe V. Uma exposição pulpar mecânica foi produzida com uma sonda ex- ploradora esterilizada, na porção central de cada cavidade. A hemorragia foi controlada com “bolinhas” de algodão es- terilizadas. O esmalte, dentina e local da exposição pulpar de cinco dentes foram condicionados com ácido fosfórico a 35%, seguido da aplicação de um sistema adesivo (Scotchbond Multi-Uso - 3M). Nos outros cinco dentes, um cimento de hidróxido de cálcio (Hydro C - Dentsply) foi aplicada no local da exposição pulpar antes da aplicação do mesmo sis- tema adesivo. Todos os dentes foram restaurados com uma resina composta (Z-100 - 3M). Após 7, 30 ou 45 dias os cães foram anestesiados e perfundidos com solução salina seguida de uma solução de formalina neutra tamponada. A maxila e a mandíbula foram seccionadas em três partes e estocadas em uma solução para desmineralização. Após a desmineralização óssea, todos os dentes foram cortados, incluídos em parafina e seccionados longitudinalmente. A se- guir todos os dentes foram corados com hematoxilina e eosina e observados em microscópio de luz. Os resultados de- monstraram a presença e persistência de uma resposta inflamatória de diferentes intensidades nos três períodos ex- perimentais. Não houve variação na resposta inflamatória pelos diferentes tratamentos propostos. 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