title: Mineral trioxide aggregate as a pulpotomy medicament: a narrative review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several medicaments have been used to devitalize remaining pulp or maintain pulp vitality and promote healing. Based on pulpal biocompatibility and good sealing ability, a growing interest in more biocompatible materials promotes mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) as an alternative to traditional medicaments. Uniquely, MTA can preserve pulpal health predictably and promote healing with pulp regeneration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using electronic search all papers published since 1993 on the use of MTA in paediatric dentistry were identified. This paper provides a narrative review of the current literature on MTA, formocresol, ferric sulphate and calcium hydroxide with particular reference to primary teeth pulpotomy medication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of formocresol or formaldehyde-based medicaments should be replaced with more biocompatible medicaments possessing antimicrobial and pulpal regenerative properties. Of the four pulpotomy medicaments discussed, mineral trioxide aggregate is recommended as the medicament of choice.
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Dentistry, School of Dental Science, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: F K
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Messer
mesh_terms: D017607:Aluminum Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017610:Calcium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006801:Humans; D010087:Oxides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011672:Pulpotomy / Q000379:methods*; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017640:Silicates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D017607:Aluminum Compounds; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D017610:Calcium Compounds; D004338:Drug Combinations; D010087:Oxides; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants; D017640:Silicates; C086631:mineral trioxide aggregate