Direct pulp capping procedures versus root canal treatment in young permanent vital teeth with pulp exposures due to caries : A systematic review

• Purpose: To evaluate the available evidence on pulp capping procedures and root canal treatment in young permanent teeth with vital pulps exposed by caries. Methods: The study was conducted as a systematic review of the literature. Three databases, PubMed, Web of Knowledge, and The Cochrane Library were searched. Reference lists of relevant articles were hand searched. The quality of all relevant publications was rated. Results: Ten original scientific studies were included in the review. The quality was rated as low in all studies. The search failed to disclose any article directly comparing pulp capping and root canal treatment. The level of evidence was insufficient to draw any conclusions regarding the effectiveness of the two treatment concepts. High success rates are reported for pulp capping procedures in exposure due to caries, though it is not possible to compare them to success rates of root canal treatment. The review confirms the lack of high quality studies on the treatment of young permanent teeth with cariously exposed pulps.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Odontologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Dentistry (hsv//eng)

Keyword

adolescent

child

dental caries

dental pulp capping

dental pulp exposure

root canal therapy

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

for (subject category)