Comparison of 6-and 12-Month Clinical and Radiographic Success Rates of Pulpotomy with Formocresol and Biodentinein Primary Second Molar Teeth

Vital pulpotomy is performed in primary teeth to preserve the tooth until normal exfoliation. Different materials, such as formocresol, zinc oxide-eugenol, MTA, and Biodentine, are used in this procedure. This study aimed to compare the clinical and radiographic success of pulpotomy treatment in primary molars using formocresol or Biodentine.

In this clinical study, pulpotomy procedures were performed on 66 mandibular primary second molars teeth in 4–7-year-old children, referring tothe Department of Pedodontics, Khorasghan Faculty of Dentistry, Isfahan Azad University, with indications for pulpotomy treatment. In each patient, one tooth was randomly assigned to the formocresol pulpotomy group, and one tooth was assigned to the Biodentine group. The teeth underwent pulpotomy treatments with either formocresol or Biodentine and restored with a stainless steel crown. The clinical and radiographic outcomes were recorded at 6 and 12 months. Data were analyzed with Fisher’s exact test using SPSS 22 (α = 0.05).

Both groups demonstrated 100% clinical success rate at 6-and 12-month follow-ups. However, at 6 months, the radiographic success of formocresol was 84.8% compared to 93.9% in the Biodentine group (p value = 0.21). The radiographic success rates of formocresol and Biodentine were 81.8% and 93.9%, respectively at 12 months (p value = 0.13).

The teeth treated with Biodentine exhibited higher clinical and radiographic success rates as compared to formocresol at 6-and 12-month follow-up, with no statistically significant difference between the two groups. It seems Biodentine can be a proper alternative to formocresol in primary molar pulpotomy procedures.