Pulpotomy of human primary molars with MTA and Portland cement: a randomised controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
This study compared the clinical and radiographic effectiveness of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and Portland cement (PC) as pulp dressing agents in carious primary teeth.


METHODS
Thirty carious primary mandibular molars of children aged 5-9 years old were randomly assigned to MTA or PC groups, and treated by a conventional pulpotomy technique. The teeth were restored with resin modified glass ionomer cement. Clinical and radiographic successes and failures were recorded at 6, 12, 18 and 24-month follow-up.


RESULTS
All pulpotomised teeth were clinically and radiographically successful at all follow-up appointments. Six out of 15 teeth in the PC group and five out of 14 teeth in the MTA group exfoliated throughout the follow-up period. No statistically significant difference regarding dentine bridge formation was found between both groups throughout the follow-up period. As far as pulp canal obliteration is concerned, a statistically significant difference was detected at 6-month follow-up (p <0.05), since the beginning of mineralised material deposition could be radiographically detected in 100% and 57.14% of the teeth treated with PC and MTA, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
PC may serve as an effective and less expensive MTA substitute in primary molar pulpotomies. Further studies and longer follow-up assessments are needed.
Sakai
Vivien Thiemy
VT
Bauru School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, Bauru, São Paulo 17012-901, Brazil. viviensakai@usp.br
Moretti
A B S
AB
Oliveira
T M
TM
Fornetti
A P C
AP
Santos
C F
CF
Machado
M A A M
MA
Abdo
R C C
RC
D017607:Aluminum Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017610:Calcium Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003188:Composite Resins / Q000737:chemistry; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000628:therapy; D003738:Dental Cements / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000379:methods; D003809:Dentin, Secondary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005899:Glass Ionomer Cements / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008768:Methylmethacrylates / Q000737:chemistry; D008963:Molar / Q000473:pathology*; D010087:Oxides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011672:Pulpotomy / Q000379:methods*; D016300:Radiography, Bitewing; D019279:Resin Cements / Q000737:chemistry; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017640:Silicates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014080:Tooth Exfoliation / Q000503:physiopathology; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000473:pathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015035:Zinc Oxide-Eugenol Cement / Q000737:chemistry
D017607:Aluminum Compounds; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D017610:Calcium Compounds; D003188:Composite Resins; D003738:Dental Cements; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005899:Glass Ionomer Cements; D008768:Methylmethacrylates; D010087:Oxides; D019279:Resin Cements; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials; D017640:Silicates; C084550:Vitremer; D015035:Zinc Oxide-Eugenol Cement; C086631:mineral trioxide aggregate; C031667:IRM cement