## 1 Introduction  
Preserving dental pulp vitality is paramount to the success of vital pulp therapy (VPT) and long-term oral health care. The dental pulp plays a crucial role in maintaining tooth vitality, providing essential nutrients, and responding to injuries through reparative processes [1]. The loss of pulp vitality necessitates more invasive treatment options, such as root canal therapy, extractions, implants, or dentures, which can be costly and time-consuming. Therefore, strategies aimed at maintaining the health of all or part of the pulp are essential for extending tooth longevity and minimizing the need for invasive interventions. Early diagnosis and timely treatment are critical in preserving dental pulp vitality. Regular dental check-ups starting at an early age help prevent and identify oral health issues early. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends that children have their first dental visit by their first birthday or within six months after their first tooth appears. This early start, often called establishing a \"dental home\", allows dentists to monitor tooth development, provide preventive care, and educate parents on proper oral hygiene for infants and toddlers [2]. Vital pulp therapy (VPT) involves a continuum of procedures, ranging from sealing the unexposed pulp to disinfecting and stabilizing the exposed pulp using bioactive materials. The success of VPT relies heavily on the selection and performance of pulp capping materials. Traditional materials, such as calcium hydroxide (CH), have historically been the cornerstone of VPT due to their ability to stimulate mineralized tissue formation and provide antibacterial effects through their high alkalinity. Despite these advantages, CH-based materials present significant limitations that impact long-term clinical success. Notably, they exhibit high solubility in oral fluids, which compromises their durability and can lead to early dissolution. Their poor sealing ability also increases the risk of microleakage and bacterial infiltration, undermining the treatment outcome. Furthermore, CH has weak mechanical properties, leading to structural instability under functional loads. These deficiencies have driven the search for alternative bioactive materials that offer superior biocompatibility, sealing ability, and mechanical strength, thereby enhancing pulp preservation and regenerative outcomes [3; 4; 5]. This evolving need underscores the development and clinical integration of new-generation materials such as calcium silicate cements, bioceramics, and biomimetic scaffolds. Recent advancements in bioactive materials have markedly enhanced the clinical outcomes of VPT. Among these, calcium silicate-based materials such as mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), Biodentine, and TheraCal LC have demonstrated superior biocompatibility, sealing ability, and mechanical integrity compared to traditional materials like calcium hydroxide. MTA is known for its ability to promote dentin bridge formation and pulp healing due to the sustained release of calcium ions and the induction of an alkaline environment conducive to tissue regeneration [6; 7; 8]. However, its prolonged setting time, potential for discoloration, and relatively high cost can limit its use in certain clinical settings [9; 10; 11]. Biodentine, another tricalcium silicate cement, offers a shorter setting time and improved handling characteristics compared to MTA, with favorable biological responses such as odontoblastic differentiation and low cytotoxicity [12]. Nonetheless, Biodentine exhibits lower radiopacity and wash-out resistance than MTA, which may affect its performance in long-term or complex cases [13]. TheraCal LC, a light-curable resin-modified calcium silicate material, is appreciated for its ease of application and immediate setting under light exposure. It releases calcium ions and can promote pulp healing in shallow exposures.