Theracal LC pulp capping material and liner

Resin Modified Glass Ionomer (RMGI), to date, is the most popular material used for this purpose but is too acidic to be placed directly onto pulps and lacks many of the pulpal-protecting properties that the tooth needs and dentists want! RMCS will be dentistry’s “new hero” for this protocol.

Protecting the pulp is the utmost responsibility of the clinician. “Seal to heal” is the goal of effective dentin protection. Theracal is “apatite at our fingertip,” making it ideal for direct and indirect pulp capping and, most importantly, as a pulpal protective liner/base under composites, amalgams and as an interactive flowable when incorporated with crown preparations.

Calcium Silicates (MTA), the active ingredients of Theracal LC, have many years of research showing its effectiveness. Therefore, TheraCal LC is a natural (or perfect) replacement to calcium hydroxide, glass ionomers, RMGI and IRM/ZOE, due to its interactive properties. Clinically, rapid/effective delivery of calcium for repairing/healing dentin has been observed.

The significant calcium release:

• provides reparative ions,
• creates a sustaining alkaline environment required to promote wound healing,
• provides immediate bond and sealing properties, and
• stimulates hydroxyl-apatite and secondary dentin formation within affected tissues.

Theracal is dispensed directly onto affected moist tissues from a flowable syringe; no mixing, clicking or triturating and it is light curable in 1 mm increments. The effectiveness of calcium release is not diminished by prior application of bonding agents.

Theracal LC (RMCS) processes the physical properties required under all placement conditions:
Relatively insoluble to etching and water as compared to CaOH.
Significantly greater immediate bond strengths comparing to RMGI and CaOH containing materials.
Light-cured rapid polymerization set compared to other slow setting MTA materials.

Being an interactive flowable resin onto dentin, Theracal LC is guaranteed to withstand the physical compressive stresses of occlusion and when placed under amalgams, will be relatively insoluble to penetration.

Theracal LC has been approved as “apatite stimulating” by the FDA and is the first of its kind RMCS interactive flowable resin! Theracal provides the sustained alkalinity required of healing. It is self-sealing, which aids in antimicrobial activity with initial bonds to dentin to resist accidental air drying removal. The impressive calcium release has been shown to be crucial to the promotion of apatite formation, dentin bridge formation and to the re-apatite potential of affected dentin and the mechanical sealing of the pulp (without adhesive).

Theracal LC is available from Bisco Dental Products.