Ferric sulfate pulpotomy in primary molars: a retrospective study.
OBJECTIVE
This investigation collected clinical and radiographic data from a retrospective chart review of patients receiving ferric sulfate pulpotomies with a sub-base of zinc oxide eugenol in a clinical practice over a five-year period.


METHODS
Clinical and radiographic data were available for 242 primary molars in 171 children with follow-up times ranging from 4-57 mos (mean = 19 mos).


RESULTS
The overall radiographic success rate ranged from 74-80%. The frequency of normal appearing pulps decreased over time. The most frequently observed pulpal responses were calcific metamorphosis (6-33%) and internal resorption (7-18%). Overall clinical success was 99%. Only 9 of the 242 teeth were extracted due to radiographic and/or clinical failure. A survival analysis demonstrated that the overall cumulative probability of survival remained high over time with a cumulative survival of over 90% after 3 years.


CONCLUSIONS
The overall success rates in this study are lower than those reported previously in the literature for ferric sulfate pulpotomies, but are comparable with those reported for 1:5 dilution, 5-min formocresol pulpotomies.
Smith
N L
NL
Dental Corps, United States Army, San Antonio, Texas, USA.
Seale
N S
NS
Nunn
M E
ME
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003784:Dental Pulp Calcification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D005566:Formocresols; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008963:Molar; D011672:Pulpotomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012391:Root Resorption / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015035:Zinc Oxide-Eugenol Cement
D005290:Ferric Compounds; D005566:Formocresols; D015035:Zinc Oxide-Eugenol Cement; C031025:formocresol; C024823:ferric sulfate