Radiographic Outcomes of Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA) with and Without Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF) In Direct Pulp Capping: A Clinical Pilot Study

Abstract

The purpose of the current investigation was to determine by radiographic means if a calcific dentinal bridge had formed following direct pulp capping (DPC) with calcium hydroxide (CH), mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), or a combination of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) and MTA. In the beginning, 45 systemically healthy patients who needed DPC and had pulpal exposure were enrolled in the trial. They were then randomly assigned to one of three groups: CH (control, n = 15), MTA ( n = 15), or PRF + MTA ( n = 15). To determine the radiographic density of the dentin immediately underneath the location of pulpal exposure, pre-operative intraoral digital radiographs of the afflicted teeth were acquired. Through sequential imaging, the radiographic evaluation of dentinal bridge formation was performed. All images were studied carefully, keeping the reference point constant. Out of the 45 patients, finally 10 per group were analysed. According to an analysis of variance, difference in mean density values among the various groups was found to be significant [( p = .001). On bi-group comparison (using post-Tukey HSD), difference between CH and PRF + MTA was significant ( p = .001), between MTA and PRF + MTA was significant ( p = .022), and between CH and MTA not significant ( p = .347)]. The PRF + MTA group showed the highest increase in mean density values. The results of the present study suggest that PRF and MTA when used in combination have better radiographic outcomes compared to MTA alone when used as DPC agents.