Comparison of mineral trioxide aggregate and formocresol as pulp medicaments for pulpotomies in primary molars.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to compare the effect of white mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) to that of formocresol (FC) as pulp dressing agents in pulpotomised primary molars.


METHODS
In this clinical trial study, 60 lower second primary molars of 46 children were treated by a conventional pulpotomy technique. The teeth were randomly assigned to the MTA (experimental) and FC (control) groups by random numbered table. Following removal of the coronal pulp and haemostasis, the pulp stumps were covered with an MTA paste in the experimental group. In the control group, FC was placed with a cotton pellet over the pulp stumps. The teeth of both groups were restored with stainless steel crowns. Children arrived for clinical and radiographic follow-up evaluation after 6, 12 and 24 months.


RESULTS
The treated teeth in FC group (n = 18) were clinically and radiographically successful after 24 months. The radiographic follow-up evaluation revealed one failure (furcation involvement) in 18 molars treated with MTA after 24 months. The treated teeth in MTA group were clinically successful 24 months postoperatively. Pulp canal obliteration was observed in one of the teeth treated with MTA and four of the teeth treated with FC.


CONCLUSIONS
MTA could be used as a safe medicament for pulpotomy in cariously exposed primary molars and could be a substitute for FC.
Noorollahian
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Department of Paedodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, East Azadegan Avenue, Zahedan, Iran. ma_azadi@yahoo.com
D017607:Aluminum Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017610:Calcium Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000150:complications; D003785:Dental Pulp Capping; D003789:Dental Pulp Exposure / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005566:Formocresols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible; D008963:Molar / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000601:surgery; D010087:Oxides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011672:Pulpotomy / Q000379:methods*; D011859:Radiography; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017640:Silicates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D017607:Aluminum Compounds; D017610:Calcium Compounds; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005566:Formocresols; D010087:Oxides; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants; D017640:Silicates; C086631:mineral trioxide aggregate; C031025:formocresol