Partial or Complete Pulpotomies of Inflamed Baboon Permanent Molar Pulps

Pioneering work by Cvek (J Endod 1978;4:232) on traumatised teeth showed that partial pulpotomy combined with calcium hydroxide (CH) capping may preserve the pulp. Later, Mejare and Cvek (Endod Dent Traumatol 1993;9:238) suggested that, based on clinical experience, partial pulpotomy in young permanent teeth with deep carious lesions is a treatment option. Objectives: to compare the responses of experimentally inflamed pulps of baboon immature first permanent molars to a complete pulpotomy (CP), or a ‘Cvek’ type partial pulpotomy (PP) combined with CH capping. Methods: with ethics approval, pulpitis was induced in 34 permanent molars of 9 Chacma baboons [Papio ursinus] (Cleaton-Jones et al. J Dent Res 2002; 81B:246, abstract 119). Two weeks later, complete (n=16) and partial (n=18) pulpotomies with CH capping were performed on the molars. Histological assessment of the tissue response at 90 days followed. All the baboons showed their expected weight gain over the experimental period. Results: viable pulp was seen at the openings of the root canals in 10/16 CP teeth and 13/18 PP teeth. Dentine bridges were present in 9/16 CP teeth and 10/18 PP teeth. Apical abscesses were seen in 3/16 CP teeth and 4/18 PP teeth, all were visible on radiographs. None of the rates differed significantly with the Fisher’s Exact Test. Conclusion: the current study supports Mejare and Cvek’s clinical findings that partial pulpotomy and CH capping is a treatment choice for inflamed pulps of immature permanent molar teeth. The study was supported by a Wellcome Trust Collaborative Research Initiative Grant.