Methods: 120 molars which were judged as requiring vital pulpotomy based on their pulpal exposure by caries using clinical and radiographic criteria in 58 children aged between 5 and 9 years old included in study. All teeth were treated with the same conventional pulpotomy technique. The teeth were randomly assigned into DL(40 teeth), FS (40 teeth) and FC (40 teeth) groups. After coronal pulp removal and hemorrage control, hemostasis of remaining pulp in the groups was achieved by exposure to Diode Laser (810 nm) at 1.5 W, 30 Hz, 50 mJ, by applying diluted formocresol and % 15.5 ferric sulphate solution. Zinc oxide eugenol paste was then placed over the pulp stumps and all pulpotomized teeth were restored with stainless steel crowns. Subjects were monitored clinically and radiographically at 1,3,6,9 and 12 months.
Results: The clinical success rate at 12 months for the FC, FS and DL groups was 97,5 % 94,9 %, 100% respectively and radiographic success for each group was: FC 87,5 %, FS 79,5%, DL 75 %. These results were not statistically significant using chi-square test (p>0.05).
Conclusions: Non-pharmacologic DL pulpotomy technique giving favourable clinical results but showed reduced radiographic success rates compared to FC and FS at 12 months; however these results were not statistically significant. Therefore, DL may be recommended as a suitable replacement for FC. But improved success rates with a longer follow-up period would be required for the DL pulpotomy to be considered as a routine alternative procedure.