Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA) vs Calcium Hydroxide in Direct Pulp Capping – Literature Review

Direct pulp-capping is a treatment for exposed vital pulp involving the placement of a dental material over the exposed area to facilitate both the formation of protective barrier and the maintenance of vital pulp. Direct pulp capping has been used as an alternative approach to the maintenance of vital pulp so that many tooth extractions and root canal treatments could have been avoided through the conservative approach of direct pulp capping. For this purpose different kinds of materials used such as Zinc Oxide Eugenol, Glass Ionomer (GI), Resin Modified Glass Ionomer (RMGI), Adhesive systems, Calcium Hydroxide, Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA) and Bio dentine. The MTA clinically performed more effective than conventional Calcium Hydroxide liner as a direct pulp capping material, showed higher success rate than dycal. MTA easier to use clinically as a direct pulp capping material. MTA provided better long term results more effective than Calcium Hydroxide in maintaining long-term vitality. MAT significantly less toxic, less pulpal inflammations. MTA more predictable than dycal in formation of dentin barrier and superior than Calcium Hydroxide in dentinogenetic process in human pulp. MTA is more effective and superior comparing the Calcium Hydroxide as a direct pulp capping material, showed higher success rate with favorable outcomes in maintaining long term tooth vitality and easier to use in pulp capping. MTA is less toxic, less pulpal inflammation capping compared to Calcium Hydroxide. MTA superior and in dentinogenic process and more predictable hard tissue barrier formation.