Summary Trial/Paediatric Dentistry
Evidence-Based Dentistry (2006) 7, 35–36. doi:10.1038/sj.ebd.6400395
Mineral trioxide aggregate in primary molar pulpotomies
Would mineral trioxide aggregate be a good replacement for formocresol in primary molar pulpotomies?
Address for correspondence: Dr Holan, Senior Lecturer, Department of Paediatric Dentistry, The Hebrew University, Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel. Email: holan@cc.huji.ac.il.
Monty Duggal1 and Mohammed Al Ansary1
1Department of Paediatric Dentistry, Leeds Dental Institute, Leeds, UK.
Holan G, Eidelman E, Fuks AB. Long-term evaluation of pulpotomy in primary molars using mineral trioxide aggregate or formocresol. Pediatr Dent 2005; 27:129–136
Abstract
Design
Quasi-randomised controlled trial.
Intervention
Primary molar teeth were treated using a conventional pulpotomy technique but received either mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA, test group) or formocresol (FC, control group) as a pulp dressing. Follow-up clinical (not blind) and radiographic (blind) assessments were undertaken every 6 months.
Outcome measure
Time elapsed between treatment and either 1) detection of pulpotomy failure 2) natural exfoliation of tooth 3) patient's last visit for recall. Pulpotomy success rate = (number of teeth in which pulpotomy did not fail)/ (total number of treated teeth) 
100.
Results
In total, 62 pulpotomised teeth were available for analysis, 29 in the FC group and 33 in the MTA group. Treatment failure occurred in six teeth (one treated with MTA and five with FC) after a mean of 16 months (range, 4–30 months). Pulpotomy success rates were 97% for MTA and 83% for FC. The mean follow-up time was 38months (range, 4.–74 months), in which there was no significant difference between test and control groups.
Conclusions
No statistically significant difference was found in the success rates of MTA and FC in this long-term evaluation of pulpotomy in primary molars.
