CLINICAL, RADIOGRAPHIC, AND HISTOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF THERACAL PULPOTOMY IN HUMAN PRIMARY TEETH

Abstract

Vital pulp therapy has always been a topic of debate in pediatric dentistry. Formocresol (FC) has been the most commonly used pulpotomy agent in primary teeth. Despite its high rate of clinical success, concerns about its safety have been raised in the literature. However there is lack of evidence that establishes the superiority of one type of treatment allowing for the replacement of FC. To evaluate the short term clinical, radiographic and histological success of TheraCal LC, in vital pulpotomy of primary molars, sixty mandibular primary molars indicated for vital pulpotomy were randomly distributed between test group that received TheraCal LC, and control group that received FC. After standardized pulpotomy and restoration of the teeth, clinical and radiographic follow up was carried out at 3 and 6 months. For the histological assessment, 5 cariously exposed primary molars that were planned for extraction due to orthodontic reasons received TheraCal LC vital pulpotomy. Teeth were extracted after 4 months, and prepared for histological evaluation. No clinical failure was recorded through the whole follow up period in both groups. Radiographic failure was (3.3%) in both groups. One case in FC group showed internal root resorption and inter-radicular root resorption at 3 and 6 months, respectively. While, one case in the Theracal LC group had internal root resorption at 3 months. As for the histological findings, TheraCal LC was found to be relatively biocompatible, tissue response was found to be in the direction of repair. TheraCal LC was found to be as successful as FC over a 6 months period and might be an alternative to FC in vital pulp therapy