Solubility, Water Sorption, and Shear Bond Strength of Contemporary Pulp Capping Agents Biodentine, TheraCal LC, and Bioactive Glass Nanoparticles to the Composite Resin Restoration

Abstract

Aims: Assessing the solubility, water sorption (WS), and shear bond strength (SBS) of contemporary pulp capping agents i.e., Biodentine, TheraCal LC, and Bioactive glass nanoparticles (BGn) bonded to the composite resin restoration as compared to the Dycal. Methods: Forty acrylic resin blocks with a center ditch were fabricated. Each block was then randomly allocated into four groups based on the type of pulp capping cement filled in the prepared ditch (n = 10) Group 1: Dycal, Group 2: Theracal LC, Group 3: Biodentine, and Group 4: BGn. A two-step etch and rinse adhesive along with nanohybrid universal composite were then bonded and built as a 2 mm restoration. SBS and failure mode analysis were performed using a universal testing machine (UTM) and stereomicroscope. Five disks were meticulously manufactured from each tested type of cement for solubility and WS analysis. ANOVA followed by a Tukey post hoc test evaluates the statistical significance of the SBS between restoration and pulp capping material Results: TheraCal LC exhibited the highest SBS values (7.99±0.65 MPa). However, the Dycal demonstrated the lowest bond integrity (1.46±0.19 MPa). Biodentine (14.11±0.58%) displayed the most solubility and TheraCal LC was identified as the least soluble pulp capping agent (3.99±0.41%). Biodentine (12.60±1.15%) demonstrated maximum WS whereas BGn (5.12±0.35%) unveiled the minimum WS. Conclusion: BGn cement displayed satisfactory outcomes in terms of SBS, solubility, and water sorption among all the tested cements. TheraCal LC also exhibited desirable properties of pulp capping agent. However, its water sorption is higher than Dycal.