This study aimed to analyze the effects of pulp capping materials on gene expression changes in primary tooth-derived dental pulp cells using next-generation sequencing. Dental pulp cells were extracted and treated with mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), Biodentine (BD), or TheraCal LC (TC). Cell viability assays were performed. Total RNA was extracted and analyzed through mRNA sequencing. Bioinformatic analysis of differential gene expression in dental pulp cells exposed to BD or TC versus MTA was performed. MTA, BD, and TC exposure had no significant effect on pulp cell viability (p > 0.05). Gene sets associated with inflammatory response (p = 2.94 × 10⁻⁵) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) signaling via the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) pathway (p = 2.94 × 10⁻⁵) were enriched in all materials. In BD-treated cells, Wnt/β-catenin signaling (p = 3.15 × 10⁻⁴) gene sets were enriched, whereas enrichment of interferon gamma (IFN-γ) response (p = 3 × 10⁻³) was observed in TC-treated cells. In gene plot analysis, marked increases in receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-Β ligand (RANKL) expression were seen in TC-treated cells over time. Despite the similar cell viabilities exhibited among MTA-, BD-, and TC-treated cells, patterns of gene networks differed, suggesting that diverse functional gene differences may be associated with treatment using these materials.

The first permanent molars play a key role in maxillofacial development and occlusion. The purpose of this study is to investigate the characteristics and development stages of first molars with delayed eruption, and to evaluate their associations with congenital missing teeth. Eight-year-old patients who had delayed eruption in their first molars were classified into 75 patients with physical barriers and 77 patients without physical barriers. The development stages of the first and second molars in the delayed area were analyzed using Nolla method from the panoramic radiographs. The relationship between congenital missing teeth and delayed area was also investigated. Delayed eruption of first molars were more common in the maxilla alone. With the presence of physical barriers, male patients showed higher frequency in unilateral cases, while female patients had higher bilateral cases when there was no physical barrier. Delayed development of first molars were observed in delayed eruption area. In the absence of physical barriers, adjacent second molars were also developed slowly and the incidence of congenital missing teeth was high in delayed area. If first molars with delayed eruption are observed, clinical and radiographical follow-ups are necessary for the evaluation of their developmental stages and congenital missing teeth.