Mineral trioxide aggregate as pulp capping agent for primary teeth pulpotomy: 2 year follow up study

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to clinically and radiographically evaluate Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA) as an agent for pulpotomy in primary teeth and to compare it with that of formocresol (FC) pulpotomy. Nineteen children between the ages of 6 to 8 years with 40 carious primary molars were treated with pulpotomy using either FC or MTA. All the molars were evaluated clinically and radiographically at regular intervals over a twenty four month period. The observations were tabulated and statistically analyzed. Eighty five percent success was observed with FC pulpotomy whereas MTA showed 95% success. MTA showed a higher clinical and radiographic success rate than FC. MTA may be a favorable material for pulpotomy in primary teeth whose pulps have been compromised by a carious or mechanical pulp exposure.