Efficacy of photobiomodulation when used with calcium hydroxide for pulp capping of dogs’ teeth

The current study assessed the effect of calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH)2] and Photobiomodulation [PBM] on pulp capping when [Ca(OH)2] is used as a dental pulp capping material on dental pulp exposures of dogs’ teeth. Methods: 48 teeth in 3 mongrel dogs were divided in random into two major study groups; group I where Ca(OH)2 was used as a pulp capping agent and group II in which both Ca(OH)2+PBM were used. The groups were equally divided according to the observation period following completion of pulp capping into Subgroup (A) 1week, Subgroup (B) 2 and subgroup (C)16weeks. The teeth were examined for histological inflammatory response as well as dentine bridge formation Results: With regards to inflammatory response at 1 week significantly less intense inflammation was observed in Ca(OH)2+PBM (group II) compared to the Ca(OH)2 (group I) for the same time period with no significant difference for between group I and group II for other time intervals. As for dentin bridge formation PBM+Ca(OH)2 groups showed statistically significant thicker dentine bridge formation at 16 weeks than Ca(OH)2 alone group for the same time period with no significant difference for between group I and group II for other time intervals. Conclusions: Under the conditions of this study, laser irradiation appeared to be a beneficial adjunct in dental pulp capping procedures in which Ca(OH)2 was the pulp capping material.