Comparison of Clinical and Radiographic Success Rate of Ferric Sulfate Pulpotomy Method in Second Primary Molars Using Zinc Oxide Eugenol and Zinc Polycarboxylate Cements

Ferric sulfate pulpotomy is a safe and effective method of the pulpotomy of primary teeth. But the results of different studies indicate low success rate of ferric sulfate pulpotomy in comparison to Formocresol pulpotomy and a portion of these failures may be related to stimulating and harmful effects of zinc oxide Eugenol paste. The aim of this study was to determine and compare the clinical and radiographic success rate of ferric sulfate pulpotomy of primary molars with zinc oxide eugenol and zinc polycarboxylate cements in order to determine the more suitable pulp capping material for ferric sulfate pulpotomy.

In this randomized trial study, 140 primary molar teeth in children between3-5 years old, with the treatment plan of pulpotomy were randomly allotted to one of two groups ferric sulfate pulpotomy with zinc oxide eugenol and zinc polycarboxylate cements. After treatment, pulpotomized teeth were double blindly evaluated clinically and radiographically and Fisher's exact test was used for analysis of data.

Clinical success rate in one year evaluation in two groups of zinc oxide eugenol and Zinc polycarboxylate was 98.1% and 93.9%, respectively that was not significantly different. (P=0.34). In one year evaluation, radiographic success rate was 96.30% in zinc oxide eugenol group and 91.8% in zinc polycarboxylate group but this difference was also not significant(P=0.42).

In ferric sulfate pulpotomy, it is not preferable to use zinc polycarboxylate cements as a subbase instead of zinc oxide eugenol cement.