title: Comparative evaluation of formocresol and mineral trioxide aggregate as pulpotomy agents in deciduous teeth.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate and compare mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and formocresol as pulpotomy medicaments by clinical and radiographic assessments and to assess the histological features of both pulpotomy medicaments in deciduous teeth.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was performed on 100 mandibular deciduous molar teeth requiring pulpotomy treatment. Children between age four and six years were randomly selected and divided into formocresol or MTA group. The patients were recalled after 3, 6, 9, 12 months respectively and evaluated clinically and radiographically. Histological assessment was done on lower deciduous canine teeth, which were undergoing serial extraction for interceptive orthodontic purpose. Pulpotomy was done on four teeth with formocresol and another four teeth with MTA. The teeth were extracted after six months following pulpotomy procedure and histologically evaluated. Two freshly extracted carious teeth were taken as controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clinical and radiographic criteria were laid and Chi analysis revealed significant difference in mobility ( P≤0.05), periodontal ligament widening ( P≤0.01 level) and inter - radicular radiolucency ( P≤0.02 level) between two groups at the end of 12 months. Histologically, in MTA group, a layer of new dentine formation with less dentinal tubules at the pulpotomized site was found. In formocresol group, increased inflammatory cells, a zone of atrophy, were noted in radicular portion of pulp.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MTA is superior to formocresol clinically, radiographically. Histological analysis showed better reparative ability with hard tissue barrier formation with MTA compared to formocresol.
authors: Department of Pedodontia and Preventive Dentistry, Ragas Dental College, Uthandi, Chennai, India. dayasrinivasan@yahoo.co.in
authors: Daya
authors: D
authors: Srinivasan
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Jayanthi
mesh_terms: D017607:Aluminum Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017610:Calcium Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003785:Dental Pulp Capping / Q000379:methods*; D003809:Dentin, Secondary / Q000187:drug effects; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005566:Formocresols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible; D008963:Molar; D010087:Oxides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D057872:Pulp Capping and Pulpectomy Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011672:Pulpotomy / Q000379:methods; D017640:Silicates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D017607:Aluminum Compounds; D017610:Calcium Compounds; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005566:Formocresols; D010087:Oxides; D057872:Pulp Capping and Pulpectomy Agents; D017640:Silicates; C086631:mineral trioxide aggregate; C031025:formocresol