Pulpal response after complete crown preparation, dentinal sealing, and provisional restoration

This study evaluated the acute pulpal healing response following preparation, etching, and sealing of the prepared vi tal dentin with a 4-methacryloxyethyl trimellitate anhydride (4-META) bonding system. Adult monkey teeth received crown preparations with chamfer margins, prepared with a diamond used at ultra high speed with water cooling. Vital dentin was etched with 10% citric acid-3% ferric chloride, rinsed, and sealed with the 4-META system. A provisional crown was formed with a low-viscosity light-curing adhesive resin. Teeth were fixed and evaluated histopathologically. Pulpal responses at 3 days showed only minimal disruption of the odontoblastic zone. At 7 days, the pulps presented reorganizing odontoblastoid cells, and, at 10 days, the pulps shoed new odontoblastoid cells with a thin rim of reparative dentin. Pulps of crown preparations that were etched and then sealed with the 4-META system presented healing patterns similar to those of pulps associated with Class V preparations lined with calcium hydroxide, observed in (previous) similar studies.