Zinc oxide-eugenol and calcium hydroxide pulpectomies in baboon primary molars: histological responses.
OBJECTIVE
To compare histological responses to zinc oxide-eugenol (ZOE) and calcium hydroxide (CH) pulpectomies in primary molar teeth with inflamed pulps.


METHODS
This was an experimental study in 17 juvenile baboons (Papio ursinus).


METHODS
Pulpitis was induced with fresh human carious dentine or Streptococcus mutans placed into occlusal cavities in 78 primary molars; after 14 days a pulpectomy was performed on the same primary molars with the two root fillings randomly allocated. The root canal openings were then covered with IRM and the cavity filled with amalgam. After 90 days specimens were harvested and examined under the light microscope with the examiner blind to the treatment.


RESULTS
Reaction frequencies in the ZOE-treated versus CH-treated teeth were: no recognisable pulp 89% and 82%, internal root resorption 0% and 1%, external root resorption 11% and 24%, presence of bacteria 5% and 18%, periapical abscesses 24% and 52%.


METHODS
Fisher's exact probability test showed a statistically significant higher prevalence of periapical abscesses in the CH-treated group (P=0.03, relative risk 2.2).


CONCLUSIONS
ZOE pulpectomy is preferred to CH for the treatment of infected pulps in primary molars.
Medical Research Council/University of the Witwatersrand Dental Research Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa. cleatonjonesp@dentistry.wits.ac.za
P
P
Cleaton-Jones
M
M
Duggal
R
R
Parak
S
S
Williams
S
S
Setzer
D000818:Animals; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003723:Dental Amalgam; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000382:microbiology; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent; D008768:Methylmethacrylates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008963:Molar; D048549:Papio ursinus; D010482:Periapical Abscess / Q000209:etiology; D011670:Pulpectomy / Q000379:methods*; D011671:Pulpitis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011897:Random Allocation; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012391:Root Resorption / Q000209:etiology; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000502:physiology; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000473:pathology*; D015035:Zinc Oxide-Eugenol Cement / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D008768:Methylmethacrylates; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials; D015035:Zinc Oxide-Eugenol Cement; C031667:IRM cement; D003723:Dental Amalgam; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide