Hamid Kermanshah
Ladan Ranjbar Omrani
Sholeh Ghabraei
Reza Fekrazad
Niloufar Daneshparvar
Parisa Bagheri

Abstract Background: Due to the complications of root canal treatment, conservative modalities to preserve pulp vitality are favorable. Direct pulp capping (DPC) refers to the coverage of the pulp tissue exposed by a biocompatible agent that can improve the prognosis of the tooth by ۴۴% to ۹۵%. Some recent studies have reported more predictable results (a success rate of about ۹۰%) for DPC with laser and regenerative materials such as mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA). This study aimed to clinically compare DPC with ProRoot MTA alone and in combination with Er: YAG (erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet) laser irradiation (۲۹۴۰ nm).Methods: This clinical trial was conducted on ۲۶ patients with a mean age of ۲۹ years (in the range of ۱۷ to ۴۶ years) who required DPC following pulp exposure during deep caries removal. The teeth were divided into two groups. In the control group, the teeth underwent DPC with ProRoot MTA while in the test group, the teeth were first irradiated with a ۲۹۴۰ nm Er: YAG laser and then underwent DPC with ProRoot MTA. The patients were recalled at one, ۳, and ۶ months for the follow-up (clinical and radiographic examinations). The data were analyzed using the Fisher exact test.Results: The success rate was ۷۵% in the laser group and ۹۳% in the control group. The groups were not significantly different (P>۰.۰۵).Conclusion: No significant difference was found in terms of the success rate of DPC with ProRoot MTA alone and in combination with Er: YAG laser irradiation. Keywords: Dental Pulp Capping Lasers Solid-State Mineral Trioxide Aggregate ProRoot MTA