Histological evaluation of pulp response to Syrian crude propolis as a pulpotomy agent in primary and immature permanent teeth - In vivo study

Purpose: This study evaluated the pulp response to crude propolis, which was used as a pulpotomy agent in primary and immature permanent human teeth. Materials and methods: 24 teeth planned for orthodontic extraction were pulpotomised. This included 10 primary molars (caries-affected) and 14 immature premolars (caries-free). A glass ionomer cement was applied to a layer of propolis and the cavity was filled with a light cured composite resin. Thirteen teeth were extracted after the first month of treatment, which included five primary molars (group 1) and eight premolars (group 2), while the rest consisting of five primary molars (group 3) and six premolars (group 4) were extracted after 3 months. The histological sections were prepared and viewed under a light microscope, looking at histological signs of inflammation and the formation of a dentine bridge. Results: After 1 month of treatment in group 1, three cases showed no inflammation, while one tooth showed a moderate and one a severe inflammation. In group 2, five cases showed no inflammation, while a moderate inflammation was recorded in two, and severe in one tooth. After 3 months in group 3, all cases showed no inflammation. In group 4, three cases showed no and three showed a severe inflammation. A dentine bridge was formed in all groups: three, six, four and four cases for groups 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. Conclusion: Syrian crude propolis seemed to reduce pulp inflammation response and induced formation of a dentine bridge, when used as a pulpotomy agent in primary and immature permanent teeth. Keywords: dentine bridge, inflammation, propolis, pulpotomy