Calcium hydroxide cavity liners are available in which forms?

• A. Water-based neutral pH solutions only
• B. Gelatin-based soft liners
• C. Saline suspensions with alkaline pH (>12) and modified resin-containing forms that can be polymerized
• D. Pure resin materials with no calcium hydroxide

Answer: (C)

Calcium hydroxide liners are designed to be highly alkaline and to promote dentin healing, so the forms offered reflect both handling and therapeutic goals. The accepted forms include saline suspensions with a high pH (greater than about 12) that allow the material to be applied as a viscous slurry on the dentin, delivering the calcium hydroxide directly to the prepared cavity walls. They also include resin-containing forms that can polymerize, known as resin-modified calcium hydroxide liners, which cure to a solid, more durable barrier and reduce solubility while still providing the characteristic high pH and dentin-stimulating effects.

Pure resin materials without calcium hydroxide would not provide the therapeutic Ca(OH)2 benefits, and water-based neutral pH solutions don’t reflect the inherently alkaline nature of calcium hydroxide. Gelatin-based soft liners are not the standard forms used for calcium hydroxide liners.