Abstract
The aim of this study is to compare mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) with calcium hydroxide when used as pulp-capping material in human teeth. 40 teeth were divided into groups based on clinical diagnosis: healthy and hyperaemic. The teeth were pulp capped with MTA and calcium hydroxide. We localized the eNOS and iNOS by immunohistochemistry, tested their mRNA expression by RT-PCR and protein levels by western blots. The evaluation of the samples was based on the cell inflammatory response and on the pulp tissue organization. In particular, evaluation of eNOS and iNOS differences between the various groups and the cellular evolution after the first 7 days from the treatment, and at a distance of 28 days. Our results suggest that there are differences in localization and expression between eNOS and iNOS in dental pulp. Our study has helped us to better understand the effects that calcium hydroxide and MTA have on pulp tissue.