Australian Dental Council (ADC) Practice Test

Pulp capping is a procedure performed when the dental pulp is exposed or nearly exposed, typically due to carious lesions. The goal is to protect the pulp from further injury and to promote healing, ideally allowing for a healthy pulp to continue functioning.

Pulpalgia, or pulp pain, may occur as a consequence of pulp capping, particularly if the procedure does not fully protect the pulp or if inflammation develops. This pain can arise from the pulp’s response to the irritants that led to the initial damage or from the pulp capping material itself, if it causes irritation.

Internal resorption is another potential consequence, where the dentin inside the tooth begins to be resorbed, or broken down, due to inflammation or chronic irritation of the pulp. This condition can be exacerbated if the pulp capping is not successful and the underlying health of the pulp is compromised.

Hypercalcification, or the excessive deposition of calcium salts, can also occur as a response to pulp capping. In some cases, dentin forms in an attempt to seal off areas of exposure to bacteria, which may lead to the formation of mineralized tissue within the root canals.

Given that all these outcomes can arise as a result of pulp capping in a mature