Cold atmospheric plasma does not affect the regenerative potential of the pulp in rats

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) treatment combined with adhesive filling therapy on rat dental pulps. Cavities were prepared in the first maxillary molars of 20 Sprague Dawley rats. The first molar and the unprepared second molar of one randomly selected maxillary quadrant were treated with CAP. The prepared cavities were filled with composite. After 24 h and 28 days, 10 rats each were killed. Teeth were demineralized and embedded in paraffin and histological sections were stained with hematoxylin–eosin and chloracetatesterase. None of the pulps displayed necrosis. Plasma treatment caused no additional alteration to the dental pulp in combination with adhesive filling therapy. These findings indicate that plasma treatment is compatible with the regenerative potential of the pulp.