HOW MATERIALS SCIENCE HAS CHANGED CLINICAL PULP THERAPY?
CAROLYN PRIMUS
SUMMARY
- Contributor to dental materials research & development, particularly bioactive cements, and education on dental materials.
EDUCATION/CERTIFICATES
- PhD in Materials science and engineering University of California, Davis. Certificate in Business Administration, from Simmons College, Boston MA Certified in New Product Development by Product Development Management Association.
EXPERIENCE
- Consultant in Medical devices since 1997. Adjunct professor at Dental College of GA and Texas A&M College of Dentistry; formerly an Associate Professor at LECOM School of Dental Medicine. Prior positions include founder and president of Avalon Biomed Inc., Director of Research and Development, and Quality, at the Ceramco division of Dentsply. Principal investigator on multi-year Small Business Research Grant for “Quick-Set Endodontic Material”.
- Non-dental positions include: Group Manager of Materials Research Dept. at the Gillette Company, Ceramic Engineer & Post Doctoral Fellow at the Naval Research Laboratory, Staff Member, Sandia National Laboratories, and Senior Technician, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories.
PUBLICATIONS
- Author of 31 peer-reviewed publications in dental journals and 11 publications in non-dental journals. Author of six dental book chapters; contributor to Phase Diagrams for Ceramists volume 7. Inventor on 15 patents.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
- Chair of ADA committee on standards for endodontic materials.
- ISO convener on endodontic materials.
- Reviewer for multiple biomaterials related journals.
AWARDS
- Shils award winner for innovation in dentistry 2016
- Top 25 Women in Dentistry 2017
- Lucy Hobbs Innovator Award 2020
- Inaugural ACerS Bioceramics Division: Larry L. Hench Lifetime Achievement Award 2020
ABSTRACT
Calcium silicate cements have changed our methods of maintaining pulp integrity and health. These materials have evolved concurrently with our more conservative approach to pulp therapy, allowing caries to selectively remain and being minimally invasive. The speakers will blend a discussion of the bioactivity of the cements with a discussion of choosing an affordable, convenient and clinically effective product for multiple pulp therapy indications. Materials science analyses and ISO 6876 testing data will be presented on the compositions of the bioactive ceramics, physical characteristics (particle size and setting times) and costs per dose. Confusing distinctions among products will be clarified with pros and cons of various product formats.
Results of several randomized clinical trials using calcium silicate cements on primary teeth pulpotomy have demonstrated that these materials are equal or even better than the traditional formocresol. This fact, together with improved dispensing systems (decreasing waste and reducing costs) and better handling properties of some of these materials, may be suggested as an affordable and biologic substitute to formocresol in primary teeth pulpotomy.
