Endodontics · single question
What is the gold standard used in clinical research for studying dentinal bridge formation?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. Calcium hydroxide Ca(OH)₂
- A. RMGI is a restorative material; not a gold standard for dentinal bridge research.
- B. Eugenol-based materials can be cytotoxic to pulp tissue and are not used as a gold standard for dentinal bridge formation studies.
- C. Calcium hydroxide Ca(OH)₂ is the historical gold standard used as the control/comparator in studies examining dentinal bridge formation. Its high pH (~12.5) induces bridging, though bridge quality can show tunnel defects. All new pulp-capping materials are compared against it in research.
- D. MTA is clinically superior for pulp capping/pulpotomy in current practice and increasingly replaces Ca(OH)₂ clinically — but Ca(OH)₂ remains the historical gold standard COMPARATOR used in research.