Pulpal calcification: A systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating differences among repair materials and the association with vital pulpal therapy success
Originally at sciencedirect.com
Summary & scoring by The Bell Brief (Dr. Jennifer Bell) using the Drill-Down Protocol (Drill-Down Score) — not the original publisher.
Why it matters for dental
Endodontists and restorative dentists now have quantified evidence that material choice after vital pulp therapy directly affects long-term pulpal calcification and treatment success, guiding material selection for better pulp preservation.
Key points
- Meta-analysis of 23 studies (n=2,317 teeth) showed MTA and Biodentine produced significantly less dystrophic calcification than calcium hydroxide after vital pulp therapy (OR 0.41, 95 % CI 0.28-0.59).
- Calcification severity was graded radiographically; teeth restored with MTA had 31 % lower odds of complete canal obliteration at 36 months, preserving future endodontic access.
- Success rates (absence of symptoms, PAI ≤ 2, positive cold test) remained > 92 % with silicate cements versus 78 % with calcium hydroxide at the same follow-up interval.
- The authors recommend switching from calcium hydroxide to MTA or Biodentine as the first-line direct pulp-capping agent in permanent teeth when vital pulp therapy is indicated.
Who should care
Read the original on Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA)
Full reporting and any paywall content live on sciencedirect.com. We summarize and score; we do not republish.
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