[Pulpotomy of deciduous teeth]

Abstract

Rather easy to perform, pulpotomy of the deciduous teeth is the most frequent endodontic treatment performed on children, but also the most controversial. Based on the amputation of the pulp chamber and the conservation of the inflammation-free root canals, the clinical results can be good, depending on the materials used. In this, calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) as well as zinc-oxide-eugenol (ZOE) have been proven very inflammatory whereas Formocresol (FC) remains the reference even if its clinical toxicity is still reported in literature on a very controversial way. Nevertheless, this was sufficient to trigger and stimulate a search for alternatives, and led to the proposition to use ferric sulfate and even more recently MTA as new bases for the treatment of the pulp stumps after pulp chamber amputation.