Long-term outcomes of primary molar ferric sulfate pulpotomy and root canal therapy.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to compare long-term outcomes of ferric sulfate pulpotomy (FS) and primary tooth root canal therapy (RCT) in vital pulps of deciduous molars exposed to caries lesions.


METHODS
A total of 291 molars were treated in 130 children. One hundred and eighty-two molars received FS and 109 received RCT by random selection.


RESULTS
At 3-year re-assessment, 29 molars (15 FS, 14 RCT) were available for clinical and radiographic examination. Two independent pediatric dentists evaluated periapical radiographs of the treated molars. Molars were classified 1 of 4 outcomes: (1) N = normal treated molar; (2) H = nonpathologic radiographic change present; (3) P(o) = pathologic change present, follow-up in 6 months; (4) P(x) = pathologic change present extract immediately. Survival analysis was applied. A good level of agreement between raters was found for molars with outcome P(x) (K = 0.79). No difference in radiographic outcomes was demonstrated 3 years after treatment (chi2 = 1.4). Survival analysis demonstrated a 3-year survival probability of 0.62 for FS-treated molars and 0.92 for RCT molars. Survival of RCT molars was significantly greater than for FS molars (Wilcoxon: P = .01; log-rank: P = .02).


CONCLUSIONS
RCT-treated molars demonstrated significantly greater survival than FS-treated molars 3 years after treatment.
Casas
Michael J
MJ
The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario. mcasas@sickkids.ca
Kenny
David J
DJ
Johnston
Douglas H
DH
Judd
Peter L
PL
D002675:Child, Preschool; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000150:complications; D003789:Dental Pulp Exposure / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008963:Molar / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D010483:Periapical Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011672:Pulpotomy / Q000379:methods*; D011859:Radiography; D012390:Root Canal Therapy; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D005290:Ferric Compounds; C024823:ferric sulfate