A paradigm shift from calcium hydroxide to bioceramics in direct pulp capping: A narrative review

Abstract For many years, calcium hydroxide (CH) was the preferred material for direct pulp capping (DPC), occupying an elevated position. The collapse of this paradigm is due to the emergence of bioceramics with less pulpal inflammation and superior mineralization abilities than CH. The goal of the current article was directed to: (1) review the history of DPC “the idea of an exposed pulp as a hopeless organ has given way to one of healing and optimism,” (2) classify the bioceramics in dentistry, and (3) explain and compare the mechanism by which dentin barriers for CH and bioceramics are formed. A comprehensive literature search of the database was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus utilizing the following terms: Biodentine, calcium hydroxide, calcium aluminate, calcium phosphate, calcium silicate, direct pulp capping, NeoMTA Plus, Quick-Set2, and TotalFill. Reference mining of the selected publications was utilized to discover other studies and strengthen the results. Only works written in English were taken into consideration, and there were no restrictions on the year of publication. Bioceramic materials might be used as an intriguing substitute for CH. Compared to CH, they induced more positive pulpal reactions.