ANALYSING THE EFFICACY OF MINERAL TRIOXIDE AGGREGATE VERSUS DENTINE AS DIRECT PULP CAPPING AGENTS IN PERMANENT TEETH WITH SEVERE CARIOUS LESIONS

Background: MTA is bioactive, biocompatible, antibacterial, and has excellent sealing ability, promoting pulp cell proliferation and reparative dentin formation. Despite its long setting time, poor hold properties, and high cost, MTA has proven reliable for direct pulp capping in carious exposures when using a two-visit treatment protocol. Objective: To evaluate the efficiency of Mineral Trioxide, aggregate & bio-dentine in direct pulp capping of patients reporting to Frontier Medical and Dental College. Methodology: Total of 80 subjects were divided randomly into two groups i.e. of Mineral Trioxide aggregate and Biodentine. Patients aged 18-40 years, both genders, with deep carious lesions, symptoms of reversible pulpitis, vital teeth with no peri-apical radiolucency were included. Direct pulp capping was done with MTA in Group I (n = 40) and Biodentine in Group II (n = 40). All the patients were called for follow up after 3 weeks and subjective assessment of pain was done on VAS scale. Pulp vitality was assessed by EPT test. Absence of subjective pain and presence of pulp vitality on EPT test was considered success (effectiveness) of that specific treatment. Chi-square test was applied for a comparison of outcome variables. Results: The mean age was 24.69 (±4.95) years with a range from 18 to 40 years. The females were 36 (45.0%) and males were 44 (55.0%). The frequency of moderate pain was higher in MTA (n=5, 12.5%) than Biodentine (n=2, 5%) but the results were not statistically significant (p=0.49). Similarly, the efficacy of pulp capping (p=0.51) and pulp vitality (p=0.709) was not different statistically between the two groups. Conclusion: There is no difference between Biodentine and MTA in pain, pulp efficacy, and pulp vitality. No association was found with age group, gender, diabetes, and smoking.