Clinical reliability of the dentine bridge formed after pulpotomy: a case report.

An exposed pulp in a crown-fractured vital young tooth may be treated with either pulp capping or pulpotomy, using a calcium hydroxide dressing. Calcium hydroxide stimulates dentine bridge formation, which is a good indicator of pulp vitality. In this case it is reported that, although seriously contaminated for a long period with debris from the oral environment, the dentine bridge which formed after pulpotomy was able to function as a protective pulpal barrier. The tooth responded to an electrical pulp tester within normal limits and the periapical radiographic appearance was normal at review after 7 years.