Journal of Dental Medicine

Statement of Problem: Pulpotomoy is considered as one of the most common treatments among primary teeth. Therefore, search for an appropriate and safe material seems necessary. Studies have proved ferosulfate as a therapeutic material in pulpotomy.

Purpose: The goal of the present study was to compare clinical and radiographic changes of pulpotomy using ferosulfate and formocresol in primary molars among 3-8 year old children.

Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial study, fifteen 3-8 years old children, referred to the pedodontics department, faculty of Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences were selected. All subjects did not show any systemic disease, with at least two clinically and radiographically accepted posterior teeth for pulpotomy technique. Totally, forty- three teeth were studied. For each patient both materials were used. Following treatment, patients were investigated, clinically and radiographically in 3, 6, 9 and 12 month follow-ups. During follow-up periods, teeth with failures were not excluded and investigated. For data analysis, Chi-square and Fisher’s-exact tests were used and treatment success was evaluated, based on clinical as well as radiographic findings.

Results: In all follow-up periods (3, 6, 9 and 12 months after treatment), pulpotomies with formocresol showed more success rate (73.7%) comparing to those with ferosulfate (70.8%), although the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Statistical tests revealed no significant difference between two different treatment techniques regarding pain, external and internal resorption, calcified metamorphosis, abcess, apical root resorption, apical and interradicular radiolucency.

Conclusion: Although ferosulfate, due to its less toxicity, may be considered as a proper substitute for formocresol in primary molars pulpotomies, more studies with longer-term follow up and larger sample size are required to determine its long-term effects.

Background and Aim: Pulpotomy is one of the routine methods for pulp therapy of primary teeth. At present it is a fact that ideal agent for this has not been discovered. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical and radiographic success rates of electrosurgical pulpotomy versus formocresol pulpotomy in human primary molar teeth.

Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial study, pulpotomy was performed on 68 primary molars in children aged from 5 to 10 years. The teeth were treated using either a conventional formocresol (35 teeth), or electrosurgical technique (33 teeth). Following the pulpotomy procedure, the teeth were evaluated regarding clinical and radiographic success for 3, 6 and 9 months periods. The teeth were evaluated clinically and radiographically for the presence of pain, abscess, fistula, mobility, internal and external resorption and radiolucency. Finally clinical and radiographic data were collected and analyzed with Fisher exact test using P<0.05 as the limit of significance.

Results: After 9 months follow up, the clinical and radiographic success rates for the electrosurgery group were 96% and 84% respectively and for formocresol group, 100% and 96.8% respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between the success rates for the two groups (P>0/05).

Conclusion: Although electrosurgical pulpotomy is a nonpharmacological and easy to use technique, further investigations with longer evaluation periods are suggested.

Background and Aim: Vital pulpotomy in primary teeth is performed to maintain the vitality of the pulp and tooth until normal exfoliation. Different materials such as zinc oxide- eugenol, calcium hydroxide and formocresol are used in this procedure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the application of formocresol (FC) and mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) in pulpotomy of primary molars.

Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial, one hundred and twenty six children (aged 5 to 9 years old) with dental caries that were candidate for pulpotomy were selected and randomly divided into two groups. After removing the roof of the pulp chamber, coronal pulp was cut at the orifices and bleeding controlled. In control group, formocresol was applied for 5 minutes. In case group, MTA paste was used as pulpotomy agent. The crowns of both groups were restored with amalgam and the teeth were evaluated clinically and radiographically after 3 and 6 months follow up. Data were analyzed by Fisher test with p<0.05 as the limit of significance.

Results: No sign of clinical failure was observed after 3 and 6 months follow-up. Comparison between the two methods revealed no significant difference in radiographic findings of the teeth and surrounding tissues after 3 months follow-up. However, after 6 months follow-up, internal resorption was observed radiographically in four cases of formocresol group.

Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, pulpotomy with MTA showed more successful results than formocresol radiographically. MTA is recommended as a good substitute for formocresol in pulpotomy of primary molars.

Background and Aim: Several agents were used for pulpotomy in primary molars. Formocresol is the most common drug in this procedure. In some studies it has been shown that, this material has potential some side effects, so it is essential to find other alternatives. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical and radiographic success rates of mineral trioxide aggregate and formocresol.

Materials and Methods: In this randomized clinical trial study, 70 carious primary teeth of 4 to 7-year-old children were pulpotomized, and remaining pulp was dressed with Root MTA and formocresol. The clinical and radiographic follow up evaluations were performed at 6, 12 months by a blind dentist. The data were analyzed by Fisher's exact test.

Results: At the end of 1-year follow-up period, in formocresol group sinus tract and tenderness to percussion were seen in 2 teeth, internal resorption was seen in 1 tooth, and furcation radiolucency was seen in 2 teeth. Clinical and radiographic signs of failure were not seen in any case of (Iranian) Root MTA group.

Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, Iranian MTA can be used for pulpotomy in primary molars.

Background and Aims: Formocresol is one of the most common pulpotomy medicaments for primary teeth. Because of its systemic and local side effects, it may be essential to use another material instead of formocresol. The aim of this study was to evaluate the histopothalogy of pulp after pulpotomy teeth with sodium hypochlorite and formocresol.

Materials and Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, 22 canine teeth that must be extracted because of orthodontic treatment were selected. The teeth were randomly divided into 2 groups (n=11) and pulpotomized with formocresol or sodium hypochlorite. These teeth were extracted after 2 months and pulpal response was evaluated according to the degree of inflammation and extent of pulpal involvement. Dentinal bridge formation was also evaluated. The data were analyzed by Mann-Whitney test.

Results: In formocresol group, mild inflammation was seen in 4 and moderate inflammation in 3 and severe inflammation in 4 cases. In sodium hypochlorite group mild inflammation was seen in 6 cases and moderate inflammation in 4 cases and severe inflammation in 1 case. Mann-Whitney test revealed that this difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). In formocresol group, necrosis was seen in 5 cases, but abscess and internal resorption were not seen in any cases. In sodium hypochlorite group, internal resorption was seen in 3 cases but necrosis and abscess were not seen in any cases.  Mann-Whitney test showed that the difference between two groups was significant in terms of necrosis (P=0.02). In sodium hypochlorite group, dentinal bridge was formed in 3 cases however, no dentinal bridge formation was seen in formocresol group. Mann-Whitney test showed that this difference was not significant statistically (P>0.05).

Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, sodium hypochlorite can be used as a pulpotomy agent in primary teeth.

Background and Aims: Dentin contamination with different materials used in pediatrics is effective on the bond strength of adhesives to primary teeth. Therefore, the purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of zinc oxide-eugenol and formocresol on the shear bond strength (SBS) of resin composite to the dentin in primary teeth.

Materials and Methods: A total of 72 extracted second morals were selected and mounted in acrylic resin. Buccal and lingual dentin surface were prepared and randomly allocated into 4 groups of 18 specimens each. Groups were subjected to different treatments as follows: group A, the surfaces were received no pretreatment and served as control group B, the surfaces were covered with a paste of ZOE (Zoliran) group C, the surfaces were covered with a paste of ZOE (Kemdent) group D, specimens were placed on gauze soaked in formocresol. The specimens were covered with tinfoil and stored in distilled water at 37oC for 7 days. The temporary restorations were removed after one week. The dentin surfaces were treated with single bond adhesive resin 3M (ESPE/USA) according to manufacturer’s instructions and light cured for 20 seconds. Composite P60 columns (4 mm internal diameter and 3 mm height) were applied on the prepared surfaces and light cured for 40 seconds. Shear bond testing were carried out after 24 hours with a cross head speed of 0.5 mm/min. Statistical analysis was conducted using one- way ANOVA and Tukey Post-hoc test.

Results: The mean shear bond strengths were 17.52±3 MPa for group A, 15.41±3.3 MPa for group B, 15.63±3.2 MPa for group C, and 18.57±3.8 MPa for group D. There was no significant difference between the shear bond strength of group A compared with those of groups B, C, and D (P>0.05).

Conclusion: The bond strength of composite to dentin in primary teeth was not influenced by the zinc-oxide eugenol (Zoliran & Kemdent) or formocreosol.