Retrospective study on direct pulp capping with calcium hydroxide.

In this retrospective investigation the success rate of 1064 permanent teeth after direct pulp capping was determined over a period of 10 years. The teeth were directly pulp capped with calcium hydroxide after deep caries removal, crown preparation or traumata. Only teeth with vital pulps, no signs of clinical inflammation and a pulp chamber roof opening smaller than 2 mm 2 were included in this study. All teeth were definitively restored with an amalgam, a composite or glass ionomer. The teeth controlled after three months and pain, vitality, probable non-hermetic filling margins and, only when radiologically required, possible lesions of endodontic origin were included in the protocol. The direct pulp capping success rate of the results was statistically analyzed with the Kaplan-Meier survival curve. The success rate obtained was of 82 %. A significant pulp chamber roof opening size over the vital pulp survival rate as well as an influence of the restoration material (amalgam 91 %, glass ionomer 34 %) was established (p = 0.001). The results of this investigation allow the conclusion that the direct pulp capping with calcium hydroxide is a successful therapy when the respective indications and filling materials are employed.