Response of Swine Pulps to Antibacterial/Hemostatic Agents or Laser

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of an antibacterial and hemostatic agent to diode laser irradiation in the healing of mechanically exposed porcine pulps. Materials and Method: The experiment required three adult swine (Sus scrofa domestica, Yorkshire) with 36 teeth prepared with occlusal penetrations into the pulpal tissues. The preparations were performed under general anesthesia and the pulps were exposed using high speed instrumentation with rubber dam isolation and a disinfected field. Following instrumentation the coronal pulpal tissue was amputated and immediately treated with ferric sulfate and chlorhexidine semi-gel (12), diluted Buckley' formocresol solution (12) for 5 minutes or laser irradiation with a diode laser (12). After treatment, hemostasis was obtained and a ZOE base applied to the treated pulps (36). The pulpal bases were all covered with a RMGI (Fuji II LC). The tissue samples were collected at 4 weeks (28 days). Following fixation, the samples were de-mineralized, sectioned, stained and histologically graded with a four point scale by two blinded examiners. Results: The treatment groups were statistically different with the Laser Treated Group demonstrating the least inflammation (Non-parametric Independent – Kruskall-Wallis Test p= 0.0072 ). Conclusion: Pulpotomy treatment with the KaVo Gentle Ray Diode Laser demonstrated significantly less inflammation than the other two pulpal therapy modalities. The histological sections of pulpotomized swine teeth treated with the ferric sulfate and chlorhexidine mixture presented with black pigmented areas in the pulp and surrounding tissue, possibly a “ferric” precipitate.