title: Clinical and radiographic success of mineral trioxide aggregate compared with formocresol as a pulpotomy treatment in primary molars: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The authors conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the long-term clinical and radiographic success of using mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and formocresol (FC) as a pulp-dressing material in pulpotomy treatment in primary molars.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors searched MEDLINE, Thomson Reuters Web of Science and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published from Jan. 1, 1990, to May 9, 2013. For an RCT to be included, the authors required that the primary molars treated with a pulpotomy procedure must have received stainless steel crowns as a final restoration and that rubber dam isolation was used during treatment; that the pulp must have been vital as determined clinically by means of hemorrhage control with a cotton pellet; and that the RCT must have included a follow-up period of at least two years. For each included RCT, two authors assessed the risk of bias independently.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The authors identified 20 trials and included five of them. A total of 377 primary molars were treated. The authors judged that none of the included RCTs had a low risk of bias. They noted no significant differences in clinical success (relative risk [RR] = 1.01; 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 0.98-1.05) and radiographic success (RR = 1.09; 95 percent CI, 0.97-1.21) for primary molars treated with MTA versus those treated with FC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  On the basis of the limited evidence, pulpotomy procedures performed in primary molars involving the use of MTA or FC showed comparable clinical success rates.
authors: Dr. Marghalani is a doctoral student, Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Population Medicine, School of Public Health, Loma Linda University, Calif. He also is a faculty member, Department of Preventive Dentistry, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Address correspondence to Dr. Marghalani at the Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Population Medicine, School of Public Health, Loma Linda University, 24951 N. Circle Drive, Nicole Hall, Room 2005, Loma Linda, Calif. 92350, e-mail Marghalani.a@gmail.com.
authors: Abdullah A
authors: AA
authors: Marghalani
authors: Dr. Omar is an assistant professor and the associate program director, Advanced Specialty Education Program in Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, Calif.
authors: Samah
authors: S
authors: Omar
authors: Dr. Chen is a professor and the program director, Advanced Specialty Education Program in Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, Calif.
authors: Jung-Wei
authors: JW
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D017607:Aluminum Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017610:Calcium Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005566:Formocresols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008963:Molar / Q000601:surgery*; D010087:Oxides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011672:Pulpotomy; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017640:Silicates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D017607:Aluminum Compounds; D017610:Calcium Compounds; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005566:Formocresols; D010087:Oxides; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials; D017640:Silicates; C086631:mineral trioxide aggregate; C031025:formocresol
keywords: Formocresol; evidence-based dentistry; meta-analysis; mineral trioxide aggregate; pediatric dentistry; primary molar; pulpotomy; review literature; systematic review