Pulpotomy In Primary Teeth Research Articles

Clinical and radiographic success of pulpotomy and pulpectomy in primary and permanent teeth: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This systematic review evaluated the long-term clinical effectiveness of Biodentine in vital pulp therapy procedures. Two independent reviewers searched the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane, LILACS, and DOSS databases for articles published until August 2023. Review Manager and GRADEpro software were used for the analysis, and the Revman5.3 program was used for the meta-analysis. Initially, 297 publications were found, of which 12 studies, including 1385 clinical evaluations and 881 radiographic evaluations, were considered for qualitative and quantitative analysis. Regarding the therapeutic indication, Biodentine presented a clinical success rate of: 96.38% for primary teeth submitted to pulpotomy, in a follow-up of 3-24 months, 97.18% for permanent teeth submitted to direct pulp capping in a follow-up of 3-54 months and 99.24% for primary teeth submitted to indirect pulp capping at a follow-up of 3-12 months. In radiographic analyses, a success rate of: 89.82% was observed for primary teeth submitted to pulpotomy at a follow-up of 3-24 months and for permanent teeth submitted to indirect pulp capping at a follow-up of 3-12 months. Biodentine is a reliable material for applications similar to that of mineral trioxide aggregate, with high long-term clinical and radiographic success rates, in primary and permanent teeth, regardless of the therapeutic indication. The efficacy and benefits of Biodentine, make it a promising endodontic material. Key words:Systematic review, Dental materials, Pulpotomy.

Assessing the efficacy of Laser pulpotomy versus conventional pulpotomy in primary teeth: A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials.

This study systematically reviewed the clinical and radiographic outcomes of laser versus conventional pulpotomy in primary teeth. It also compared the success and effectiveness of different lasers to enhance the understanding and use of laser pulpotomy as an alternative treatment. An electronic search was carried out in PubMed and Cochrane from 1st January 1999 to 31st December 2023. The published articles in the English language were searched using MeSH terms and text words. Only randomized controlled trials with a sample size of more than 10 and follow-ups over 6 months were included. Meta-analysis and forest plots were evaluated by utilizing Review Manager 5.4 software. Two reviewers assessed the risk of bias using the RoB 2 tool and discrepancies were resolved by the third reviewer. The success rates were combined using a random effects model to determine clinical and radiographic outcomes. We used risk ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CI) as the primary effect measures and set the significance level at 0.05. Only 18 studies met the inclusion criteria after an electronic search. Among them, 13 studies evaluated the clinical and radiographic outcomes of laser with formocresol pulpotomy, 2 studies compared with ferric sulfate pulpotomy, and the remaining studies with Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) pulpotomy. The various studies showed different levels of bias. There was no significant difference in the clinical success rate (p = 0.47; RR: 1.01; 95% CI 0.98-1.04; I2 = 0%; p = 0.70) and radiographic success rate (p = 0.94; RR: 1.00; 95% CI 0.91-1.09; I2 = 64%; p = 0.001) between laser pulpotomy and formocresol. Similarly, there was no significant difference between laser pulpotomy and ferric sulfate or MTA pulpotomy. Diode laser and LLLT can be considered as alternative pulpotomy agents to formocresol in primary teeth. However, high-quality trials are needed to confirm the accuracy and reliability of these findings.

Clinical and Radiographic Evaluation of Mineral Trioxide Aggregate and Human Amniotic Membrane Pulpotomy in Primary Molars: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

To clinically and radiographically compare the outcomes of pulpotomy with mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and human amniotic membrane (HAM) in primary molar teeth at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. The study was a randomized clinical trial with two arms. One arm consisted of participants whose pulpotomy was conducted using MTA, called group I, and the other arm, using HAM, was designated group II. Both MTA and HAM exhibited 100% clinical success. Also, there were no signs of external resorption, periapical bone destruction, or internal resorption in both the MTA and the HAM groups at all four time intervals in this study. However, periodontal ligament widening was seen in 30% of the participants in the MTA group at 1-month and at the 12-month follow-up, whereas in the HAM group, periodontal ligament widening was found to reduce significantly from 22.2% at 1-month to 11.1% at the 12-month follow-up. The HAM exhibited favorable clinical and radiographic outcomes in the present study. Mineral trioxide aggregate is the most preferred choice as a pulpotomy agent for deciduous teeth. However, various drawbacks associated with MTA have been fueling the need for newer, effective agents. HAM is not only easily available, cost-effective, and easy to handle but also favors tissue regeneration. The positive outcome of the present study strongly advocates the use of HAM as an alternative to MTA for pulpotomy in primary teeth. Joseph EJ, Rao A, Mahabala KY, et al. Clinical and Radiographic Evaluation of Mineral Trioxide Aggregate and Human Amniotic Membrane Pulpotomy in Primary Molars: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2024;17(6):641-646.

Analysis of Pediatric Pulpotomy, Pulpectomy, and Extractions in Primary Teeth Revealed No Significant Association with Subsequent Root Canal Therapy and Extractions in Permanent Teeth: A Retrospective Study.

Recent evidence suggests that an ever-growing number of pediatric patients require invasive treatments such as root canal therapy (RCT) in their permanent dentition, albeit with little information about risk factors such as prior invasive treatments of pulpotomy or pulpectomy in their primary dentition. Therefore, the primary objectives of this study were to determine the number of pediatric patients who have had any type of invasive treatment in their primary teeth, to assess their association with any subsequent invasive treatment (root canal therapy, extractions) in their permanent dentition, and to assess these trends over time. This retrospective study utilized summary data from a clinical pediatric patient pool (ages 0-17) over the period of 2013-2022. This analysis revealed that pediatric patients requiring pulpotomies and pulpectomies in primary dentition declined between 2013 (n = 417, n = 156) and 2022 (n = 250, n = 12), while root canal therapy (RCT) in permanent dentition increased six-fold from n = 54 to n = 330. In addition, few (7.8%) patients with RCT had a previous history of pulpotomy or pulpectomy, which suggests that invasive treatments performed in primary dentition have no direct association with the subsequent need for invasive treatments in permanent dentition, although more research is needed to determine the explanations for these observations.

Treatment Outcomes of Pulpotomy in Primary Teeth with Irreversible Pulpitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the success rates of pulpotomy treatment for irreversible pulpitis in primary teeth. This study was registered and conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols. Relevant studies published between January 1980 and April 2023 were identified across eight online databases and two paediatric dentistry textbooks. Study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment were conducted by multiple investigators independently. Data analysis involved single-arm and two-arm meta-analyses, leave-one-out sensitivity analysis, meta-regression, and assessment of publication bias. The risks of bias were evaluated using the Cochrane Collaboration's assessment tools. The levels of evidence were determined using the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (OCEBM) tool. Five primary studies were included. The weighted mean overall success rates at 6-month and 12-month follow-ups were 97.2% and 94.4%, respectively. Two-arm meta-analysis revealed no significant difference (p > 0.05) between the use of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and non-MTA bioceramic-based materials as pulpotomy medicaments. The sample size of each study did not affect the degree of data heterogeneity. Egger's test revealed no significant publication bias. Pulpotomy may be regarded as an alternative modality for treating primary teeth with irreversible pulpitis. Nevertheless, future well-designed trials and extended follow-up periods are warranted.

Are we practising what we preach and are we all singing from the same hymn sheet? An exploration of teaching in paediatric caries management across UK dental schools.

The evidence underpinning caries management for children has progressed dramatically over the past 20 years. Anecdotally, this is not reflected in the teaching provided to undergraduate dental students, with the ongoing teaching of outdated methods within some dental schools. To capture the current undergraduate teaching provision and clinical treatment experience requirement relative to caries management in paediatric dentistry in UK dental schools. Cross-sectional analysis of current teaching methods on paediatric caries management was obtained using a piloted online data collection form. Question content included current caries teaching methods, assessment of student exposure and competence. The results were analysed descriptively. Of the 16 UK dental schools, 14 participated. Discrepancy in teaching content was apparent. Many schools (n = 9) taught biological caries management through therapeutic fissure sealants, yet this was not reflected in assessment and clinical requirements. Some schools (n = 4) taught amalgam placement in children, and most (n = 12) operatively taught treatments that would no longer be routinely provided in general dental practice in the UK, including primary tooth pulpotomy. There is substantial variation in the paediatric caries management techniques that are taught across UK dental schools, demonstrating a need for a national consensus to address these disparities.

Evaluation of pulpal response to Endosequence root repair versus Biodentine after pulpotomy in primary teeth of puppies

Evaluation of pulpal response to Endosequence root repair versus Biodentine after pulpotomy in primary teeth of puppies

A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial Comparing Clinical and Radiographic Success Rates of MTA and rhBMP2 in Pulpotomy of Primary Teeth.

Objectives: In an ideal pulpotomy, the radicular pulp remains vital, healthy, and fully encased within an odontoblastic layer. Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) have been suggested to facilitate this outcome. We aimed to compare the clinical and radiographic failure and success rates of MTA and rhBMP2 as pulpotomy medicaments. Materials and Methods: Sixty-eight teeth from 3-6-year-old children were randomly assigned to two groups using a split-mouth design. Cervical pulpotomy was performed using MTA in one group and rhBMP2 in the other. Subsequently, the teeth were restored with stainless-steel crowns. Clinical and radiographic assessments were performed at 3, 6, 9, and 12-month follow-up intervals to evaluate success and failure rates. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis (P<0.05) Results: At six and nine months, one tooth in the BMP2 group and one tooth in the MTA group showed internal resorption, respectively. After 12 months, one tooth in the BMP2 group exhibited PDL widening. The radiographic success rate was 100% for the MTA- and 97.1% for the BMP2-group at six months, 96.7% for both groups at nine months, and 96.7% and 93.3%, respectively, at 12 months. No clinical failure criteria were observed in any of the teeth. Survival analysis revealed no significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion: The study reveals comparable outcomes between rhBMP2 and MTA, suggesting rhBMP2 as a viable alternative for pulpotomy in primary teeth. With minimal incidences of complications and no significant differences noted, rhBMP2 demonstrates potential for clinical use.

Hard tissue formation in pulpotomized primary teeth in dogs with nanomaterials MCM-48 and MCM-48/hydroxyapatite: an in vivo animal study

BackgroundThis animal study sought to evaluate two novel nanomaterials for pulpotomy of primary teeth and assess the short-term pulpal response and hard tissue formation in dogs. The results were compared with mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA).MethodsThis in vivo animal study on dogs evaluated 48 primary premolar teeth of 4 mongrel female dogs the age of 6–8 weeks, randomly divided into four groups (n = 12). The teeth underwent complete pulpotomy under general anesthesia. The pulp tissue was capped with MCM-48, MCM-48/Hydroxyapatite (HA), MTA (positive control), and gutta-percha (negative control), and the teeth were restored with intermediate restorative material (IRM) paste and amalgam. After 4–6 weeks, the teeth were extracted and histologically analyzed to assess the pulpal response to the pulpotomy agent.ResultsThe data were analyzed using the Kruskal‒Wallis, Fisher’s exact, Spearman’s, and Mann‒Whitney tests. The four groups were not significantly different regarding the severity of inflammation (P = 0.53), extent of inflammation (P = 0.72), necrosis (P = 0.361), severity of edema (P = 0.52), extent of edema (P = 0.06), or connective tissue formation (P = 0.064). A significant correlation was noted between the severity and extent of inflammation (r = 0.954, P < 0.001). The four groups were significantly different regarding the frequency of bone formation (P = 0.012), extent of connective tissue formation (P = 0.047), severity of congestion (P = 0.02), and extent of congestion (P = 0.01). No bone formation was noted in the gutta-percha group. The type of newly formed bone was not significantly different among the three experimental groups (P = 0.320).ConclusionMCM-48 and MCM-48/HA are bioactive nanomaterials that may serve as alternatives for pulpotomy of primary teeth due to their ability to induce hard tissue formation. The MCM-48 and MCM-48/HA mesoporous silica nanomaterials have the potential to induce osteogenesis and tertiary (reparative) dentin formation.

The results of vital pulpotomy in primary teeth in children with negative behavior

The aim of the study. Comparative assessment of the results of vital pulpotomy in primary teeth in children with negative behavior when using non-drug behavior correction or sedation with preserved consciousness. The proportions (%), 95% Confidence Interval (CI), the Student's criterion and χ2 for assessment of the difference between indicators were calculated. After 24 months, the pulpotomy efficiency in the 1st group was lower than in the 2nd group: 81.7% (95% CI 74.7-88.6%) and 89.2% (95% CI 83.6-94.7%), respectively, p>0.05. The proportions (%), 95% Confidence Interval (CI), the Student's criterion and χ2 for assessment of the difference between indicators were calculated. After 24 months, the pulpotomy efficiency in the 1st group was lower than in the 2nd group: 81.7% (95% CI 74.7-88.6%) and 89.2% (95% CI 83.6-94.7%), respectively, p>0.05. The treatment of the children aged 3-6 years with negative behavior under sedation with preserved consciousness increased the results of pulpotomy in primary teeth mainly due to the improvement of the quality of restorations.

Comparison of Anesthetic Efficacy between 2% Lignocaine and 2% Mepivacaine in Inferior Alveolar Nerve Blocks during Extractions and Pulpotomies of Primary Molars in Children

ABSTRACT Context: There are few studies reported in children comparing local anesthetic agents for their efficacy during extraction and pulpotomy procedures, as well as how they affect the patient’s comfort, pain management, and postoperative outcomes. The current study was planned to assess the local anesthetic effectiveness of 2% lignocaine and 2% mepivacaine in inferior alveolar nerve blocks (IANBs) during pediatric primary molar extractions and pulpotomies. Subjects and Methods: A randomized, double-blind clinical trial was carried out among 60 healthy children between the ages of 6 and 12 years who needed pulpotomies or tooth extractions of their mandibular primary molars. Traditional IANBs were performed either using 2% lignocaine or 2% mepivacaine, both with 1:100,000 epinephrine. The efficacy of local anesthesia was determined by an independent, trained operator after the procedures of local anesthesia, pulpotomy, and extraction. The pain experienced and the behavior of the child were recorded. The parameters, such as the onset and duration of anesthesia, between the groups were compared using an unpaired t-test. The pain rating by the child and the behavior rating by the operator were analyzed by an independent t-test and a Mann–Whitney U-test, respectively. The associated discomfort due to local anesthesia among groups was analyzed by the Fisher’s exact test and the Spearman’s correlation coefficient test. A value of P &lt; 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: The onset of anesthesia was significantly earlier for the lignocaine group (104.93 s) than the mepivacaine group (138.13 s) while performing pulpotomy (P &lt; 0.001) and extraction (P &lt; 0.001) procedures. The duration of action of lignocaine (173.06 min) was longer than that of mepivacaine (139.96 min). However, this comparison was statistically significant only for the extraction group (P = 0.015) but not for the pulpotomy group (P = 0.057). There was no statistically significant difference in the pain rating, their behavior, or the incidence of self-inflicted injury or discomfort between the anesthetic groups. Conclusions: The time taken for the onset of soft-tissue anesthesia was significantly shorter, and its duration was longer for 2% lignocaine when compared to 2% mepivacaine, when both the agents were given along with 1:100,000 adrenaline. Both agents were similarly effective for pulpotomy and extraction of primary molar teeth with respect to pain control and the behavior displayed by the child, which resulted in similar minor postoperative complications.

Evaluation and comparison of mineral trioxide aggregate and cold ceramic in primary tooth pulpotomy: Clinical and radiographic study.

In recent years, many studies have been conducted on different materials for covering the pulp in pulpotomy. Recently, some materials such as Coldceram have been introduced that have the ability to regenerate the pulp. In this study, our aim was to compare the clinical and radiographic success of the pulpotomy of milk molars using MTA and Coldceram over 3-, 6-, and 9-month follow-ups. In this clinical trial, 42 children aged 4-9 years old who fulfilled the inclusion criteria of the study were selected. Finally, pulpotomy was conducted on 42 teeth using MTA and another 42 teeth using Coldceram in these children. Simultaneously, all teeth were permanently repaired using glass ionomer and metal veneers in the same treatment session. Then, clinical and radiographic evaluation was conducted in 3-, 6-, and 9-month follow-up periods. None of the teeth showed clinical symptoms at the specified 3-, 6-, and 9-month follow-up times, and clinical success was 100% in both groups. In radiographic evaluation, the numbers of successful treatments were 42/42 (100%) and 41/42 (97%) for the teeth treated with MTA and Coldceram, respectively. According to this research, both materials were proven to have a 100% clinical success rate, but in the radiographic evaluation, MTA attained a higher success rate compared with Coldceram; however, this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.36). It is recommended to consider longer follow-ups and larger sample sizes in future studies.

Efficacy of two different pulpotomy agents in primary molars in a tertiary care hospital, Multan: A randomized control trial.

Objective: Multifactorial chronic dental infection and degenerative condition, the dental caries is a major health issue. Initially formocresol was the gold standard treatment for the primary teeth pulpotomy but now multiple sealing agents are used. Study Design: Prospective Interventional study. Setting: Multan Medical and Dental College/Ibn-e-Sina Hospital. Period: 15th February to 15th August 2022 and follow up 15th August to 15th November 2022. Material &amp; Methods: After informed consent, cavities in two primary teeth of equal size after clinical and radiological examination requiring pulpotomies were selected and a total of 40 pulpotomies were done. Results: Among 15 pairs of contralateral teeth, 9 pairs were clinically as well as radiographically successful for both MTA and CH pulpotomy during the follow up appointments at 0, 1 and 3 months appointment. One pair showed failure for both MTA and CH pulpotomy. Five pairs showed success with MTA pulpotomy but failure in CH pulpotomy cases. Conclusion: It can be concluded from the study that MTA is superior and more effective than CH in primary teeth pulpotomies.

Clinical and radiographic evaluation of low-level laser therapy in primary teeth pulpotomy treatment: a randomized clinical trial

Aim. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of diode laser and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in primary pulpotomy treatments with deep dentinal caries. Materials and methods. The study comprised 90 patients (42 females and 48 males) aged 6–9 years with deep dentin caries in the lower second molar. The patients were assigned to the following treatment groups: the diode laser group (n^S= 45) or the LLLT group (n^S= 45). The appointments were scheduled 3, 6, and 12 months after the treatment, and both clinical and radiographic follow-ups were performed. Results. The diode laser group had a clinical success rate of 95.6% and a radiological success rate of 93.3% at 12 months, while the LLLT group had a clinical success rate of 97.7% and a radiological success rate of 90.9%. There were no statistically significant differences in the success rates of the two groups. Conclusions. LLLT+CH may be a good treatment alternative for pulpotomy instead of devital diode laser pulpotomy.

Pre-Operative Pain’- A Clinical Indicator to Govern the Choice of Pulpotomy Agent in Primary Teeth: A Retrospective Study

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of pre-operative pain on the success of pulpotomy in primary teeth and to assess whether formocresol (FC) or MTA performs better in patients with pre-operative pain. METHODOLOGY: Data was collected retrospectively from the records of Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Children Hospital, Islamabad. Only patients with complete pre-operative and one-year follow-up clinical and radiographic records were included. A total of 60 teeth were selected for the study on which pulpotomy was performed. Among the selected teeth, thirty teeth were symptomatic at time of treatment and thirty were asymptomatic. Fifteen teeth in each group were treated with FC and fifteen with MTA as pulpotomy medicament. RESULTS: After one-year, the clinical and radiographic success of pulpotomized teeth with positive history of pain was found to be 70% and 53.3% respectively. Among the teeth with positive pre-operative pain, 60% of the teeth treated with FC and 80% of the teeth treated with MTA showed clinical success. The radiographic success rate was found to be 33.3% and 73.3% for FC and MTA respectively. CONCLUSION: The results from the current study suggest the presence of pre-operative pain negatively affects the success of pulpotomy in primary molars and could be used as an important clinical indicator to govern the choice of pulpotomy agent in clinical practice. KEYWORDS: Pulpotomy, Formocresol, Mineral trioxide aggregate, Primary teeth.

Success rate of mineral trioxide aggregate, formocresol, and calcium hydroxide as a vital pulpotomy medicament

The treatment of vital pulpotomy in primary teeth is more complex than that of permanent teeth, so dentists are expected to be able to choose the right medicament, so as to improve the pulp healing process and not damage the seeds of permanent teeth. Medications commonly used for vital pulpotomy are mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), formocresol and calcium hydoxide. This literature review discusses the success rate of MTA, formocresol, and Ca(OH)2 as vital pulpotomy medicaments. In this literature review, articles were collected using Google Scholar and Pubmed with the keywords vital pulpotomy, mineral tri-oxide aggregate, formocresol, and calcium hydroxide with the inclusion criteria being articles published in 2013-2021, availa-able in full-text, and written in both Indonesian and English. It was concluded that the success rate of MTA, formocresol, and Ca(OH)2 as vital pulpotomy medicaments was seen clinically and radiographically, and all three materials had a high success rate. However, MTA can be said to have a higher success rate because clinically and radiographically it does not show failure compared to other medicaments.

Evaluation of Chitosan and Ferric Sulphate as Pulpotomy Agents in Primary Teeth: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Preservation of healthy pulp tissue is detrimental for the function and vitality of carious primary teeth. Several hemostatic agents used for pulpotomy in primary teeth showed adverse effects on viable surrounding structures. To assess the clinical and radiographic success of chitosan (CH) pulpotomy in primary molars and to compare it with ferric sulphate (FS). A total of 40 carious lower primary second molars in 5-9 years children are selected for conventional pulpotomy technique. Over radicular stumps, FS is placed for 15 seconds in the control group, and CH for 4-5 minutes in the study group, followed by intermediate restoration (IRM). Intraoral periapical radiographs were taken immediately after 1 week and after 3rd and 6th months. The clinical and radiographic success rate is assessed and statistically analyzed. Chitosan (CH) showed a 65% radiographical and 100% clinical success rate, and FS showed 55 and 95%, respectively. Chitosan (CH) showed better results than FS as a pulpotomy agent in primary teeth. Guguloth S, Jamnapalli SR, Patloth T, et al. Evaluation of Chitosan and Ferric Sulphate as Pulpotomy Agents in Primary Teeth: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2023;16(2):223-226.

Randomized Clinical Study of the Use of MTA and Biodentine™ for Pulpotomy in Primary Teeth

Randomized Clinical Study of the Use of MTA and Biodentine™ for Pulpotomy in Primary Teeth

Fracture resistance of primary molars after pulpotomy procedure using mineral trioxide aggregate or Biodentine.

In this study, the effect of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and Biodentine on the resistance to fracture of pulpotomized primary molars was evaluated. 75 primary molars were divided into 2 control groups (positive and negative) and 3 experimental groups with 15 teeth each. No treatment was applied to the teeth in the negative control group. In the teeth in the positive control group, pulpotomy cavities were performed, but not filled. In the teeth in the experimental group, pulpotomy cavities were performed, and filled as follows. Group 3: mineral trioxide aggregate + glass ionomer cement (GIC); Group 4: Biodentine + GIC and Group 5: zinc oxide-eugenol + GIC. Final restorations in teeth in all experimental groups were completed with composite filling material. 75 teeth were then subjected to fracture resistance testing. Obtained data were analyzed statistically. Sorting by fracture resistance; Group1 > Group 4 > Group 3 = Group 5 > Group 2 (p < 0.05). Restorable fracture type was predominant in experimental groups (p < 0.05). The use of Biodentine in teeth undergoing pulpotomy in primary teeth can be preferred as a suitable base material to increase resistance to fracture.

Exploring the properties of formocresol in dentistry-a comprehensive review.

Due to concerns about formocresol's mutagenic and genotoxic potential, its use as a pulpotomy medication is currently debatable. The current paper aimed to review the properties of formocresol and concerns regarding its safety as a pulpotomy medicament for primary teeth. With reference to the context of the recently published literature, the alternatives to formocresol are discussed, together with their benefits and drawbacks. A literature search was conducted using multiple databases comprising of MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE, and Web of Science. The terms used for the search were "formocresol", "pulpotomy", and "primary teeth". In total, 364 articles were obtained from the analysis of the databases. Unrelated articles from the available full text of 174 articles were excluded. The main reasons for excluding the articles were: they were usage and precautionary guidelines. A total of 68 studies were finally included in the review. The literature review in this paper supports the notion that formocresol continues to be the most often utilized pulp dressing agent in primary teeth pulpotomies despite offering no advantages over other pulp dressing chemicals that are currently on the market.