Comparative evaluation of formocresol and mineral trioxide aggregate as pulpotomy agents in deciduous teeth.

Aim: To evaluate and compare mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and formocresol as pulpotomy medicaments by clinical and radiographic assessments and to assess the histological features of both pulpotomy medicaments in deciduous teeth. Materials and Methods: This study was performed on 100 mandibular deciduous molar teeth requiring pulpotomy treatment. Children between age four and six years were randomly selected and divided into formocresol or MTA group. The patients were recalled after 3, 6, 9, 12 months respectively and evaluated clinically and radiographically. Histological assessment was done on lower deciduous canine teeth, which were undergoing serial extraction for interceptive orthodontic purpose. Pulpotomy was done on four teeth with formocresol and another four teeth with MTA. The teeth were extracted after six months following pulpotomy procedure and histologically evaluated. Two freshly extracted carious teeth were taken as controls. Results: Clinical and radiographic criteria were laid and Chi analysis revealed significant difference in mobility ( P≤0.05), periodontal ligament widening ( P≤0.01 level) and inter - radicular radiolucency ( P≤0.02 level) between two groups at the end of 12 months. Histologically, in MTA group, a layer of new dentine formation with less dentinal tubules at the pulpotomized site was found. In formocresol group, increased inflammatory cells, a zone of atrophy, were noted in radicular portion of pulp. Conclusion: MTA is superior to formocresol clinically, radiographically. Histological analysis showed better reparative ability with hard tissue barrier formation with MTA compared to formocresol.

Histologic evaluation of pulpotomy performed with ethyl-cyanoacrylate and calcium hydroxide / Avaliação histológica de pulpotomia realizada com etil-cianoacrilato e com hidróxido de cálcio

The aim of this study was to evaluate histological aspects of the pulp-dentin complex of dogs submitted to pulpotomy and capped with ethyl-cyanoacrylate and calcium hydroxide. Thirty dog teeth were divided into 2 groups of 15 as follows: Group 1 - ethyl-cyanoacrylate; Group 2 - calcium hydroxide. The pulpotomies were carried out following all of the treatment precautions recommended for dogs. After 30 days the specimens were submitted to histological preparation and were then blindly evaluated by a histologist. Data were analyzed statistically by the Fisher exact test, comparing the two groups. After 30 days, the presence of a hard tissue barrier was observed in 83.3 percent of Group 1, and in 100 percent of Group 2 (p = 0.478). A continuous hard tissue barrier was observed in 50 percent of the ethyl-cyanoacrylate group and 75 percent of the calcium hydroxide group (p = 0.652). It can be concluded that both materials induced hard tissue barrier formation, but Group 2 had a higher percentage than Group 1, with no significant statistical differences; the differences observed between the different barriers (continuous/non-continuous) were not significant between groups and there was no pulpal necrosis in either group.

O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar o aspecto histológico do complexo dentino-pulpar de cachorros quando capeado após a pulpotomia com etil-cianoacrilato e hidróxido de cálcio. Trinta dentes de cães foram divididos em 2 grupos de 15 da seguinte forma: Grupo 1 - Etil-cianoacrilato; Grupo 2 - Hidróxido de cálcio. A pesquisa foi realizada tomando-se todos os cuidados recomendados para o tratamento com os cães. Após 30 dias do procedimento realizado os espécimes foram submetidos ao preparo histológico e logo após foram avaliados de forma cega por um histologista. Os resultados foram analisados estatisticamente através do Teste Exato de Fisher. No grupo 1, 83,3 por cento e no grupo 2, 100 por cento dos dentes apresentaram a barreira de tecido duro (p = 0,478). A barreira de tecido duro contínua foi observada em 50 por cento dos casos tratados com etil-cianoacrilato e em 75 por cento dos com hidróxido de cálcio (p = 0,652). Pode-se concluir que tanto o grupo 1 como o grupo 2 induziram a formação da barreira de tecido duro, porém o grupo 2 teve um percentual maior do que o grupo 1, não havendo diferença estatisticamente significante; a diferença observada entre as estruturas das barreiras (contínuas e não-contínuas) não foi significante. A necrose pulpar não foi observada em nenhum grupo.