Clinical Cases, Chairside

Direct pulp capping and restoration of class II cavities with resin composite

Case by Dr. Aleksandra Łyżwińska, DMD

One tooth. Two appointments. Two lesions appeared in the upper right second premolar of this 17-year-old patient. We decided to restore the mesial lesions first. Caries was excavated and, due to pulp exposure, direct pulp capping performed with mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA). Chemical adhesion to dentin and the biomaterial was established with the 10-MDP-containing universal adhesive CLEARFIL™ Universal Bond Quick, used in the self-etch mode. One benefit of this material is related to the fact that no extensive rubbing onto the surface is required. Blue composite was placed to mark the region of the exposed pulp, and CLEARFIL MAJESTY™ ES Flow - Super Low A2 was applied to the bottom of the cavity. Due to its high flexural strength, this material is a perfect dentin replacement. The rest of the tooth was restored with temporization material. To fill up the core, bulk-fill flowable composite OliBulk MD was used.

For the second appointment, the temporary was removed and caries was excavated in the distal area of the tooth as well. Following cavity preparation, CLEARFIL™ SE BOND 2 was applied to obtain a strong bond to the remaining composite material and the tooth structure. Both cavities were restored with a combination of CLEARFIL MAJESTY™ ES Flow - Super Low A2 and CLEARFIL MAJESTY™ ES-2 Classic A2.

Fig. 1. Intraoral photograph of the initial situation after isolation with rubber dam.

Fig. 2. Situation after cavity preparation and pulp exposure.

Fig. 3. Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) applied to cover and protect the exposed pulp tissue.

Fig. 4. Marking of the exposed pulp area with blue composite.

Fig. 5. Appearance of the cavity after application of the universal adhesive in the self-etch mode.

Fig. 6. Cavity filled up to the level of the interproximal enamel wall with CLEARFIL MAJESTY™ ES Flow - Super Low A2.

Fig. 7. Second visit: Prepared cavities.

Fig. 8. Situation after bonding, build-up of the interproximal walls with paste-like composite, filling with flowable material and coverage with a final layer of paste-like CLEARFIL MAJESTY™ ES-2 Classic A2.

Fig. 9. Appearance of the restored tooth before contouring.

Fig. 10. Result of the polishing procedure …

Fig. 11. … carried out with a rubber polisher and the CLEARFIL™ Twist DIA System.

FINAL SITUATION

Fig. 12. Treatment outcome …

Fig. 13. … immediately after rubber dam removal.

Dentist:

DR. ALEKSANDRA ŁYŻWIŃSKA
Warsaw, Poland

Dr. Aleksandra Łyżwińska, DMD, is a passionate aesthetic and adhesive dentist. Driven by Evidence Based Dentistry, her goal includes using modern composite materials and bonding agents in her clinical practise. In addition to her primary job, she worked as a lecturer and an assistant professor at the Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics of Medical University of Warsaw, her alma mater.