Commercial swine model: an alternative for direct pulp capping studies

Abstract

Purpose: To test the use of commercial swine as an in vivo model for studying pulp healing in response to direct capping agents. Methods: Six swine sus scrofa domesticus (Landrace X Large White) were used in the experiment. Under anesthesia, class V cavities were prepared with a pulp exposure, which was directly capped with hard-setting calcium hydroxide (Dycal®, Dentsply, Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). Restorations were performed with resin-modified glass ionomer cement (Vitremer® 3M Espe St Paul, MN, USA). After 7 or 70 days (n = 6), the animals were died; the teeth were extracted, formalin-fixed and prepared for histological evaluation. The biological response was categorized using the following criteria: inflammatory response, soft tissue organization, reactionary and, reparative dentin formations. Results: After seven days pulp in most specimens inflammatory response was present and after 70 days reparative dentin was formed at the pulp exposure area in almost all the animals. These responses were similar to those previously reported in human in similar periods of evaluation. In addition, the swine model showed another advantages: easy handling and economical feasibility compared to other animal models. Conclusion: The commercial swine model seems to be an adequate animal model to test pulp biocompatibility.