Epigallocatechin Gallate as a Pulp Medication for Vital Pulpotomy: Histopathological Study in Experimental Animals

Abstract

Abstract Background Pulpotomy is a conservative method to preserve decayed primary teeth until permanent teeth erupt. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is a natural chief polyphenol originated in green tea, with reported antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and antimicrobial properties. The current study aimed to investigate and compare dog’s dental pulp responses to epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and 1\5 concentration of Buckley’s formula of formocresol (FC) as a vital pulpotomy medications histopathologically in experimental animals. Methods In the current experimental split-mouth study, twenty-four teeth were randomly chosen from two healthy Mongrel dogs. EGCG and FC were used as vital pulpotomy medications. After four and nine weeks, the pulpotomised teeth were evaluated, and the pulp tissues were examined for histological changes, inflammation, and fibrosis. A paired t-test was used to compare the means of the same group over time; additionally, an independent samples t-test was used to compare the means of two treated groups. Results The EGCG groups showed a significant decrease in pulp inflammation, vasodilation, necrosis, and fibrosis when compared to the FC groups at both time points (four and nine weeks). Destruction of the odontoblastic layer was noticed in the FC group at nine weeks of treatment, compared to the EGCG group. Conclusions Within the limitations of this study, the histological assessment of the experimental animal model showed that EGCG was superior to FC in pulpotomised dogs’ teeth.