Equivalency study of histological responses to complete or partial pulpotomies in inflamed baboon immature first permanent molars.
Partial pulpotomy is an accepted treatment for traumatised incisor teeth with exposed pulps. Clinical studies in humans suggest that this may also be an acceptable technique for carious exposed pulps in molar teeth, but objective histological evidence to support this perception is lacking.


OBJECTIVE
To compare histological responses to complete or partial pulpotomies of inflamed pulps in immature baboon first permanent molar teeth.


METHODS
An experimental study in the baboon (Papio ursinus). Pulpitis was induced with fresh Streptococcus mutans placed into occlusal cavities with a small pulpal exposure in 34 first permanent molars of 9 juvenile baboons. After 14 days a pulpotomy, either complete or partial, was performed on the same molars in contra-lateral quadrants using calcium hydroxide covered with IRM and 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 complete and partial pulpotomy teeth were: dentine bridges 9/16 and 10/16, viable pulp in root canals 10/16 and 13/18, peri-apical abscesses 3/13 and 4/13. Fisher's exact probability test showed no statistically significant rates between the groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Complete or partial pulpotomy of inflamed pulps in immature baboon first permanent molars produced comparable reactions.
Cleaton-Jones
P
P
University of the Witwatersrand, Dental Research Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa. cleatonjonesp@dentistry.wits.ac.za
Duggal
M
M
Parak
R
R
Williams
S
S
Setzer
S
S
D000818:Animals; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003723:Dental Amalgam; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D003785:Dental Pulp Capping; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D003789:Dental Pulp Exposure / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D003790:Dental Pulp Necrosis / Q000209:etiology; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent; D003809:Dentin, Secondary / Q000473:pathology; D008768:Methylmethacrylates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008963:Molar / Q000473:pathology*; D048549:Papio ursinus; D010482:Periapical Abscess / Q000209:etiology; D011671:Pulpitis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011672:Pulpotomy / Q000379:methods*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000628:therapy; D013295:Streptococcus mutans; D019227:Tooth Apex / Q000473:pathology; D015035:Zinc Oxide-Eugenol Cement / Q000627:therapeutic use
D008768:Methylmethacrylates; D015035:Zinc Oxide-Eugenol Cement; C031667:IRM cement; D003723:Dental Amalgam; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide