Methods: 180 patients will be participated in this study. Inclusion criteria are existence of at least one tooth with deep caries, no evidence of irreversible pulpitis and PDL widening, and presence of a radiopaque zone at the pulpal wall. 28 patients have participated until now. They were randomly divided into 4 groups: Group 1(Control): No liner applied, Group 2: Calcium Hydroxide, Group 3: MTA, Group 4: CEM cement. After evaluating response of the tooth to cold, hot, percussion and pressure, a cavity was prepared and caries excavated completely from the periphery of the cavity but it was remained on the pulpal floor or the axial wall. The liner was applied; the cavity was conditioned with polyacrylic acid, and restored with posterior glass ionomer (Fuji 9 plus, GC Co., USA). Clinical symptoms of patients were evaluated each week until 6 months and x-rays were taken after 2 and 6 months.
Results: Preliminary results of this study showed that only one case in group 2 resulted in irreversible pulpitis after stepwise excavation, which needed RCT. There has been no evidence of clinical symptoms in the remaining cases in all groups until now.
Conclusions: Preliminary results of this clinical study indicate that all the materials are promising in stepwise excavation of deep caries with no re-entry but longer evaluation time is required.
Keywords: Stepwise excavation, deep caries, MTA, CEM cement, calcium hydroxide.