Hidróxido de cálcio na endodontia de dentes decíduos: aplicações clínicas e materiais alternativos

Abstract

Due to the excellent properties of calcium hydroxide, it has been used for many years as the material of choice in endodontic treatment of primary teeth. This study was carried out with the objective of evaluating whether the traditional use of the drug in endodontic primary teeth is still valid, analyzing and comparing its clinical effectiveness with that of several materials. A literature review on the use of calcium hydroxide in the endodontics of primary teeth was carried out, addressing its clinical applications and alternative materials. The research was done through the "Periódicos Capes" portal, using as descriptors: "calcium hydroxide endodontic treatment primary teeth", "calcium hydroxide primary teeth", "infection treatment primary teeth" and "pulpotomy primary teeth". For decades, many studies and formulations were produced based on calcium hydroxide for use in dentistry and endodontic procedures, and can be applied as an intracanal medication in the form of paste or as a filling material associated with other substances. Among its excellent properties are its alkaline pH, with bacteriostatic effect, and its antimicrobial activity. However, some disadvantages in the use of calcium hydroxide in primary dentition have been observed, such as the induction of internal root resorption and material resorption rate higher than the rate of physiological root resorption of teeth. Due to controversies about the use of calcium hydroxide, new alternative materials such as zinc oxide and eugenol cement and mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) have been sought and studied. It was possible to verify that regardless of the material to be used in the treatment, scientific knowledge of the technique and of the different materials and their indications is fundamental for the clinical success of endodontic therapies in pediatric dentistry.