Clinical and radiographic outcomes of the use of four dressing materials in pulpotomized primary molars: a randomized clinical trial with 2-year follow-up

Abstract

Background: Although multiple materials have been suggested for pulpotomized primary molars, there is no reliable evidence of the superiority of one particular type.

Aim: To compare the effectiveness of formocresol (FC), mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), ferric sulphate, and sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) as pulp dressing agents in primary molars after 2 years.

Design: One hundred primary molars requiring pulp treatment were allocated randomly to the control (FC) and experimental groups (MTA, ferric sulphate, and NaOCl). Clinical and radiographic evaluations were performed at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. Statistical analysis using Fischer's exact test was performed to determine the significant differences between groups.

Results: In the FC and MTA groups, 100% of the available teeth were clinically successful at all follow-up appointments. In the NaOCl group, one clinical failure was found at 18 months, and two clinical failures in the ferric sulphate group were noted at 12 and 24 months, but no significant differences were found among the groups (P = 0.41). No significant differences in radiographic success were found among all the groups at 24 months of follow-up (P = 0.303).

Conclusions: No statistically significant differences among the four materials were found at 24 months suggesting that NaOCl may be an appropriate substitute for FC.