Evaluation of the carbon dioxide laser on vital human primary pulp tissue.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the response of the human primary pulp to the carbon dioxide laser and formocresol for vital pulp therapy.


METHODS
Fifteen healthy children with intact, caries-and-restoration-free, contralateral primary cuspids with at least two-thirds of the roots remaining who were scheduled for orthodontic extraction were randomly assigned to pulpotomy treatment with a carbon dioxide laser or formocresol. The treated teeth were clinically and radiographically evaluated at 28 and 90 days post-treatment prior to extraction. The extracted teeth were evaluated histologically for pulpal response.


RESULTS
All teeth were asymptomatic and clinically normal at both observation periods. Internal root resorption was observed in one formocresol and two laser treated teeth. There was a significant inverse correlation between the laser energy applied to the pulp and the degree of inflammation at 28 days (P = .01) but not at 90 days (P = .27).


CONCLUSIONS
Carbon dioxide laser treatment compared favorably to formocresol for pulpotomy in primary teeth.
Elliott
R D
RD
Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of North Carolina School of Dentistry, Chapel Hill, USA.
Roberts
M W
MW
Burkes
J
J
Phillips
C
C
D002648:Child; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D005566:Formocresols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011670:Pulpectomy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D011672:Pulpotomy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011861:Radiography, Dental; D012391:Root Resorption / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors; D014081:Tooth Extraction; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous
D005566:Formocresols; C031025:formocresol