Journal of Dental Research, Vol 55, 1118-1124, Copyright © 1976 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals

ARTICLES

Primate pulpal response to ultraviolet light-polymerized direct-bonding material systems

C. L. Myers, H. R. Stanley, J. B. Heyde and J. Chamberlain

The results of this study, plus those of a previous study, show that a layer of CaOH lining the floor of the tooth cavity will protect the dental pulp against toxic irritants inherent to an UV light-polymerized cavity liner and a UV light-polymerized composite restorative resin. This study also showed that a layer of CaOH lining the floor of the cavity will protect the dental pulp against acid irritants inherent in the enamel etching solution. It is recommended to restorative dentistry that all primary dentin within clinically accessible areas of the cavity preparation be covered with a layer of CaOH before the enamel is etched with the acid-conditioning solution. Precautionary protection of primary dentin in this manner affords a margin of safety should the conditioning solution inadvertently spill onto the primary dentin during the enamel-etching procedure. Second, if the conditioning solution does accidentally spill onto the previously placed protective layer of CaOH during the enamel-etching procedure, then it logically follows that this acid-contaminated layer of CaOH should be mechanically removed and a new layer of CaOH that completely lines at least the floor of the tooth cavity should be placed before the resins are applied.