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

Formocresol has been used for the pulpotomy procedures of primary molar teeth in the past century; however, new alternatives have been introduced because of the potential carcinogenesis of formocresol. Some natural materials from the field oftraditional medicine, such as propolis, have also been introduced as medicaments for vital pulp therapy procedures. This study compared the clinical and radiographic success of pulpotomy treatment in primary molars, using formocresol or propolis.

In this clinical study, pulpotomy procedures were performed on 60 mandibular second primary molar teeth in 4-7-year-old children, referring to the 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 propolis group. The teeth underwent pulpotomy treatments with either formocresol or propolis after achieving anesthesia and removing caries, followed by restoration 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).

The formocresol group demonstrated 100% clinical success rate at 6-and 12-month postoperative intervals. The clinical success rates of propolis were 96.7% and 100%, respectively at 6-and 12-month intervals, respectively. The 6-month radiographic success in the formocresol group was 83.8% compared to 90% in the propolis group (p value = 0.35). Radiographic success rates of formocresol and propolis were 80% and 76.7%, respectively, at 12 months (p value = 0.75).

The results of this study revealed no significant differences in the success rates of primary molar pulpotomy procedures between propolis and formocresol. Propolis can be used for pulpotomy procedures as a substitute for formocresol.