Direct pulp capping involves placing protective material over which area?

Direct pulp capping involves placing protective material over which area?

• A. Near-exposed pulp
• B. Exposed pulp
• C. Only enamel
• D. Dentin near root surface

Answer: (B)

Direct pulp capping is used when the pulp has an actual exposure due to caries removal or trauma, and the goal is to place a protective material directly over that exposed tissue to seal it and promote healing, often encouraging the formation of reparative dentin and maintaining vitality. Because the protective material must contact pulp tissue to influence healing, the area involved is the exposed pulp itself. The other choices don’t fit: a near-exposed situation isn’t actual exposure needing a direct cap, and enamel or dentin far from the pulp surface isn’t the site where direct pulp capping is applied.

Direct pulp capping is used when the pulp has an actual exposure due to caries removal or trauma, and the goal is to place a protective material directly over that exposed tissue to seal it and promote healing, often encouraging the formation of reparative dentin and maintaining vitality. Because the protective material must contact pulp tissue to influence healing, the area involved is the exposed pulp itself. The other choices don’t fit: a near-exposed situation isn’t actual exposure needing a direct cap, and enamel or dentin far from the pulp surface isn’t the site where direct pulp capping is applied.