Association of Remaining Dentin Thickness to the Degree of Inflammation in Coronal Pulp of Primary Molars

Objectives Pulp vitality and inflammation appear to be influenced by the remaining dentin thickness (RDT), which is an important factor to ensure long-term clinical success for the protection of pulpal parenchyma. The objective of this study is to evaluate the association between the RDT in decayed primary molars to the inflammatory changes in the coronal pulp. Material and Methods RDT of 25 primary molars indicated for pulpotomy was measured pre-operatively using SOPRO imaging software. The excavated coronal pulp was histologically examined, and the degree of inflammation in the coronal pulp was evaluated. The correlation of the RDT to the degree of inflammation was then assessed. All data were subjected to statistical analysis using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS v 23.0, IBM), and a comparison of frequencies was done using the chi-square test. (p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant). Results Class III and IV degrees of pupal inflammation were seen in 91.3% and 8.7% of teeth, respectively. Widespread inflammatory changes were observed (Class III and IV) when the RDT was less than 1.5 mm, and although not statistically significant, it is of great clinical importance. There was no statistically significant association between RDT and the degree of inflammatory status of the coronal pulp. Conclusion The RDT is a crucial factor to be considered for clinical decisions regarding pulpotomy, and no decision is complete without considering RDT along with the combined clinical and radiographic evaluation that is necessary to determine the proper diagnosis and the most appropriate treatment.