Success rates of mineral trioxide aggregate, ferric sulfate, formocresol pulpotomies

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to compare the clinical and radiographic success rates of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) ferric sulfate (FS) and 1/5 formocresol (FC) as pulpotomy agents in primary molars. Methods:Pulpotomies were performed on 120 primary molars of 30 healthy chidren 5-7 years of age. A conventional pulpotomy technique was undertaken in symptomless pulp exposures of vital primary molars with no clinical or radiographic evidence of pulp degenereration. The pulpotomy agents were randomly applied on pulp stumps as follows: Group 1: MTA ( ProRoot,Dentsply,Germany), Group 2: 15.5% FS solution (Astringedent,Ultradent Products Inc.,USA) for 15 sec., Group 3: 1/5 FC for 3 min (Buckley's FC, Sultan Chemists Inc.,USA), Group 4:Zinc oxide eugenol (ZOE)(Kalzinol,Dentsply,Germany)( as controls). ZOE paste was placed on canal orificies in Groups 2 and 3. All teeth were restored with amalgam. Clinical and radiographic follow-up was made after 1 year according to following signs: pain, swelling,sinus tract, mobility, internal root resorption,furcation and/or periapical bone destruction. The data was analyzed by chi-square using NCSS-PASS 2007 software. Results:The clinical success rates were 86.7% for Group 1, 90% for Group 2, 90% for Group 3, 93.3% for Group 4. The radiographic success rates were 83.3%, 76.7%, 83.3% and 80%, respectively. No statistically significant differences (p>0.05) were obtained between the groups in clinical and radiographic success rates. Conclusions: MTA, FS, 1/5 FC,and ZOE can be all recommended as pulpotomy medicaments in primary molars.