Pulp Therapy
Trent Johnson, DMD
Pediatric Dental Resident
NYU Langone Dental Medicine, Princess Anne, MD
NYU Langone Health Advanced Education in Pediatric Dentistry
Salisbury, Maryland, United States
Andrea Lochan, DMD
Associate Program Director
NYU Langone Dental Medicine, Princess Anne, MD
Princess Anne, Maryland, United States
Purpose: The aim of this retrospective study at the FQHC on the Eastern Shore of Maryland is to compare the effectiveness pulpal medicaments used for therapeutic pulpotomies. Numerous studies have been completed regarding the “Gold Standard” medicament of Formocresol; but as advancements in dental materials continues, how do other medicaments such as Ferric Sulfate stand in comparison to the gold standard?
Methods: Primary teeth that received therapeutic pulpotomies beginning from 1/1/2011 to 8/30/2021 were reviewed taking special consideration in regard to the type of medicament used, whether the procedure failed (extraction < 12 months post-op), tooth was extracted >12 months post-op, or if the tooth survived until natural exfoliation.
Results: Of the 119 primary teeth treated with therapeutic pulpotomies selected for this research, 42 completed with Formocresol had a 100% survival rate over 12 months, and 73.8% survival to natural exfoliation. Of the 77 primary teeth treated with therapeutic pulpotomies completed with Ferric Sulfate, 84.4% of primary teeth survived over 12 months, with 79.2% survival to natural exfoliation, and 5.2% failed (extraction prior to 12 months post-op).
Conclusions: In conclusion, Ferric Sulfate is a viable treatment option for therapeutic pulpotomies on primary dentition as long as the practitioner adequately informs the patients of risks and benefits which includes the risk of failure and/or extraction of the primary tooth prior to natural exfoliation.