Calcium hydroxide powder and MTA healed the pulp exposures comparably. However, calcium hydroxide powder showed a tendency towards faster dentin bridge formation. Objectives: To compare the response of human dental pulp capped with a mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and Ca(OH)₂ powder. Methods and Material: Pulp exposures were performed on the occlusal floor of 40 permanent premolars. The pulp was then capped with either Ca(OH)₂ powder (CH) or MTA and restored with resin composite. After 30 days (groups CH30 and MTA30) and 60 days (groups CH60 and MTA60), the teeth were extracted and processed for HE and categorized in a histological score system. The data were subjected to Kruskal-Wallis and Conover tests (α=0.05). Results: In regard to dentin bridge formation, CH30 showed a tendency towards superior performance compared to MTA30 (p>0.05), although the products showed comparable results at day 60. In the item “Inflammation” and “General State of the Pulp” (p>0.05), CH showed a tendency towards presenting a higher inflammatory response. In the item “Other Pulpal Findings,” MTA and Ca(OH)₂ showed equal and excellent performance after 30 and 60 days (p>0.05). Conclusion: After 30 days, Ca(OH)₂ powder covered with calcium hydroxide cement showed faster hard tissue bridge formation compared to MTA. After 60 days, Ca(OH)₂ powder or MTA materials showed a similar and excellent histological response with the formation of a hard tissue bridge in almost all cases with low inflammatory infiltrate.

To assess the influence of metallic posts in the detection of simulated vertical root fractures (VRFs) using the following imaging examinations: 2 cone beam CT (CBCT) systems [CBCT1: NewTom(®) 3G (QR Srl, Verona, Italy) and CBCT2: i-CAT Next Generation(®) (Imaging Sciences International, Hatfield, PA)] and film and digital radiographs. Additionally, the influence of the orientation of the fracture line in the detection of VRFs was evaluated. 100, human, single-rooted endodontically treated premolars were divided into 5 groups (Group 1: with posts and buccolingual VRFs, Group 2: with posts and mesiodistal VRFs, Group 3: without posts and with buccolingual VRFs, Group 4: without posts and with mesiodistal VRFs, and Group 5: with posts and without VRFs). The premolars were placed in human mandibles and imaged using the four examination modalities. The sensitivity and the specificity of each examination in the experimental groups were calculated. The data were analysed using Student's t-test. The presence of metallic posts reduced the sensitivity of the CBCT1 system (p = 0.0244). Digital radiographs and the CBCT1 and CBCT2 systems had a higher sensitivity in detecting buccolingual fractures in teeth with posts, whereas film and digital radiographs had a higher sensitivity in detecting buccolingual fractures in teeth without posts (p < 0.05). The CBCT1 examination demonstrated the lowest specificity (p < 0.05). The presence of metallic posts did not influence the sensitivity of most of the examinations, excluding the CBCT1 system. The fracture line orientation may influence VRF detection.