pulp healing and long-term tooth survival. However, the superiority of one liner over another has remained uncertain. To address this, researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate whether different protective liners influence clinical success after selective caries removal.
Only clinical trials with a minimum follow-up period of one year were included. These studies compared calcium hydroxide with other commonly used protective liners, including glass ionomer cement (GIC), resin-modified glass ionomer cement (RMGIC), mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), Biodentine, and Theracal. The primary outcome assessed was the preservation of pulp vitality, a critical indicator of treatment success.
Overall, the findings suggest that no single protective liner offers a clear clinical advantage over calcium hydroxide after selective caries removal.
According to the authors, this indicates that clinicians may base their choice of liner on other factors such as handling properties, cost, availability, or personal preference rather than expecting differences in treatment success. The study reinforces the idea that preserving pulp vitality depends more on the biological principles of selective caries removal than on the specific liner material used.
Patankar, V., Jain, A. K., Rao, R. D., Mistry, L. N., & Langade, D. (2025). A systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the success of different protective liners after performing selective caries removal. Biomaterial Investigations in Dentistry, 12(1), 323–335. https://doi.org/10.2340/biid.v12.45221
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