Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical and radiographic success rates of mineral trioxide aggregate partial pulpotomy (PP) compared to formocresol pulpotomy (FP) in human primary molars.
Methods: In this randomized, controlled, split-mouth, clinical trial, 25 healthy five- to eight-year-olds, with 50 carious primary mandibular second molars lacking clinical and radiographic evidence of pulp pathology, were selected. The selected teeth were randomly assigned into two groups, PP and FP, for vital pulp therapy. Stainless steel crowns were placed as final restorations for both groups. Clinical and radiographic evaluation at six, 12, and 24 months used the following criteria for failure: pain; swelling; sinus tract; mobility; internal or external root resorption; furcation or periapical radiolucency; and widening of periodontal ligament space. The data were analyzed using a binary logistic generalized estimating equation model.
Results: At the 12-month and 24-month follow-ups, one child and three children, respectively, were lost to follow-up. At the 24-month follow-up, the clinical, radiographic, and overall success rates of PP were 90.9 percent, 90.5 percent, and 81.8 percent versus FP success of 100 percent, 95.2 percent, and 95.2 percent, respectively.
Conclusion: There were no significant differences between clinical, radiographic, and overall success rate of mineral trioxide aggregate partial pulpotomy and formocresol pulpotomy overall 24 months.