RecruitingNot Applicable

Prognostic Biomarkers for Pulpotomy Outcome

Hong Kong192 participantsStarted 2024-01-01

Plain-language summary

This study will recruit 180 molars diagnosed with irreversible pulpitis. Full pulpotomy will be performed on 120 teeth, while RCT (root canal treatment) will be conducted on another cohort of 60 teeth as the control for assessing long-term outcomes. Additionally, 12 blood samples and pulp tissues from healthy teeth receiving elective RCT will be collected as the controls. The first pulpal blood sample will be collected after caries removal and pulp exposure. Subsequently, the entire coronal pulp tissue will be removed and collected for histological examination, image-based spatial and scRNA-seq analyses. A second pulpal blood sample will be collected from the radicular pulp tissue. Both blood samples will be used to profile the inflammation-related biomarkers through multiplex immunoassays. The remaining pulp tissue will be covered by Biodentine and restored with resin-based composite. Pulpotomy treatment outcomes will be evaluated clinically and radiographically at 6 and 12 months. The biomarkers identified in the pulpal blood and histology and the single-cell transcriptomes of the coronal pulp will be compared with the treatment "success" and "failure" groups upon one year. The outcome of RCT will be compared with that of full pulpotomy at 24 months.

Who can participate

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Permanent molars showing clinical and radiographic evidence of a deep carious lesion (extend to the three-quarters thickness of dentine radiographically) extending close to the pulp chamber * Clinical diagnosis of irreversible pulpitis, including spontaneous pain, lingering pain with cold stimulation, no or mild tenderness to percussion, normal apical tissue or widening of the periodontal ligament space but with no signs of periapical periodontitis (i.e., PAI score 1 or 2) * Positive response to cold and electric pulp test. Exclusion Criteria: * Tooth with no response to the cold and electric tests, presence of apical radiolucency (greater than periodontal widening), signs of canal calcification and resorption, history of trauma, unrestorable or nonfunctional teeth, and evidence of perio-endo lesion * Intraoperative bleeding time is more than 10 minutes or less than 10 μL pulpal blood can be obtained * Patients with a compromised immune status (such as HIV or organ transplant) or with any history of taking analgesics/antibiotics in the past one week.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Success rate

Timeframe: 2 years

Biomarkers

Timeframe: 2 years

Trial details

NCT IDNCT06514053

SponsorThe University of Hong Kong

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2025-12

Contact for this trial

Rong Cen

+852 28590290 cenrong@hku.hk

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Pulpitis - Irreversible trials

Plain-language summary

Who can participate

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.