Trauma in Permanent Teeth: Factors Associated with Adverse Outcomes in a University Pediatric Dental Clinic.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine variables associated with adverse outcomes among traumatized permanent teeth in a university pediatric dental clinic. METHODS: Electronic charts of children treated at a university-based dental clinic for trauma in permanent teeth were analyzed. Variables evaluated included demographics (age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiologists classification, and insurance type), affected tooth location, trauma characteristics, type of dental trauma, elapsed time between trauma and initial treatment, elapsed time between the initial and final treatment, initial treatment type, and initial and final restoration type. Adverse outcomes were defined as root canal treatment, decoronation, and extraction. Associations between adverse outcomes and each variable of interest were calculated using chi-square and Fisher's exact test and logistic regression. The significance level was set at five percent. RESULTS: Adverse outcomes were significantly associated with the type of dental trauma (P=0.001), presence of luxation injury (P=0.048), initial dental treatment (P<0.001), and initial dental restoration type (P=0.019). CONCLUSIONS: Treating dental trauma in permanent teeth in a timely manner can strongly impact their prognosis.

Retrospective Study of the Survival Rates of Indirect Pulp Therapy Versus Different Pulpotomy Medicaments.

PURPOSE: The purposes of this retrospective chart review were to determine: (1) how primary molars in need of vital pulp therapy (VPT) have been treated over a period of four years at a university-based pediatric dental practice (UBP); and which treatments-indirect pulp therapy (IPT), formocresol pulpotomy (FCP), and ferric sulfate pulpotomy (FSP)-have been successful. METHODS: Electronic patient records (axiUm) that contained the procedure codes D3120 (pulp cap-indirect) or D3220 (therapeutic pulpotomy) were totaled by year. Visit records were queried again to identify treatment failures (i.e., extractions [D7140] or pulpectomy [D3221/D3240]). A total of 2,001 primary molar teeth were included in the study. Success was compared using a Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS: At the three-year follow-up, IPT had a 96.2 percent survival rate, FCP had a 65.8 percent survival rate, and FSP had a 62.9 percent survival rate (P<.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Over a four-year period of time, IPT became the more commonly used vital pulp therapy treatment at a university-based pediatric dental practice and had a significantly better survival rate than FCP or FSP.

Preventive Services by Medical and Dental Providers and Treatment Outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: Nearly all state Medicaid programs reimburse nondental primary care providers (PCPs) for providing preventive oral health services to young children; yet, little is known about how treatment outcomes compare with children visiting dentists. This study compared the association between the provider of preventive services (PCP, dentist, or both) with Medicaid-enrolled children before their third birthday and subsequent dental caries-related treatment (CRT) and CRT payment. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of young children enrolled in North Carolina Medicaid during 2000 to 2006. The annual number of CRT and CRT payments per child between the ages of 3 and 5 yr were estimated with a zero-inflated negative binomial regression and a hurdle model, respectively. Models were adjusted for relevant child- and county-level characteristics and used propensity score weighting to address observed confounding. RESULTS: We examined 41,453 children with > 1 preventive oral health visit from a PCP, dentist, or both before their third birthday. Unadjusted annual mean CRT and payments were lowest among children who had only PCP visits (CRT = 0.87, payment = $172) and higher among children with only dentist visits (CRT = 1.48, payment = $234) and both PCP and dentist visits (CRT = 1.52, payment = $273). Adjusted results indicated that children who had dentist visits (with or without PCP visits) had significantly more CRT and higher CRT payments per year during the ages of 3 and 4 yr than children who had only PCP visits. However, these differences attenuated each year after age 3 yr. CONCLUSIONS: Because of children's increased opportunity to receive multiple visits in medical offices during well-child visits, preventive oral health services provided by PCPs may lead to a greater reduction in CRT than dentist visits alone. This study supports guidelines and reimbursement policies that allow preventive dental visits based on individual needs.

Minimal intervention dentistry procedures: a ten year retrospective study.

UNLABELLED: Minimal Intervention Dentistry (MID) is an effective treatment approach with increasing acceptance among dental professionals. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the MID impact on Dentistry by analyzing procedures performed on patients treated at a Pediatric Dentistry Graduate Program clinic which implemented MID. STUDY DESIGN: The number of procedures including sealants, modified atraumatic restorative treatment (mART), resin crowns, direct pulp capping, pulpotomy, pulpectomy, and deciduous/ permanent extractions from 333 pediatric patients treated between the years 2001 to 2003 and 2008 to 2010 in Distrito Federal, Brazil were analyzed. Statistical analysis involved chi-square and G Williams tests. RESULTS: 783 procedures were analyzed and demonstrated that there was a significant reduction of sealant placement in the last triennium when compared to the first one (p<0.0001). Moreover, there was a significant increase in the amount of mART (p<0.0001). This increase in mART procedures resulted in a significant reduction in procedures with pulp involvement: direct pulp capping (p=0.0014), pulpotomy (p=0.0014) and pulpectomy (p=0.0002). CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results, MID represented a positive impact on the intervention on caries lesions in patients, mainly reflected by the significant reduction in the number of direct pulp capping, pulpotomy and pulpectomy.

Pulp exposures in adults--choice of treatment among Swedish dentists.

This study comprises a survey of Swedish dentists'treatment preferences in cases of carious exposure of the dental pulp in adults.The survey was conducted as part of a comprehensive report on methods of diagnosis and treatment in endodontics, published in 2010 by the Swedish Council on Health Technology Assessment. A questionnaire was mailed to a random subsample of 2012 dental offices where one dentist at each office was requested to answer all questions. Each questionnaire contained one of three sets of questions about endodontic practice routines.Thus around one-third of the subsample received case-specific questions about treating carious exposure. Only general practitioners aged below 70 years were included.The final study sample comprised 412 participants.The dentists were presented with two case scenarios. In Case 1 a 22-year old patient had a deep carious lesion in tooth 36 and in Case 2 a 50-year old patient had a deep carious lesion in tooth 14.The participants were asked to nominate their treatment of choice: pulp capping, partial pulpotomy or pulpectomy. For Case 1, 17 per cent of the respondents selected pulpectomy; the corresponding rate for Case 2 was 47 per cent. Female gender and age group 25-49 years were predictive of selection of less invasive treatment options. However, according to recent guidelines (2011) from the National Board of Health and Wellfare, Swedish dentists are recommended to elect pulpectomy prior to pulp capping/partial pulpotomy when confronted with a tooth having a cariously exposed pulp in adults.

Early prognostic indicators and outcome prediction model for replanted avulsed teeth.

AIM: To identify early clinical variables that are most predictive of treatment outcome and to develop a model that will allow prediction of treatment outcomes based on these variables. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A dental trauma database was used to randomly identify patients who had received treatment for avulsed teeth between 1998 and 2007. A data extraction form was designed and completed for each tooth. Demographic, diagnostic and treatment information recorded in the patient's records, in addition to radiographs, were viewed retrospectively. STATISTICS: The significance and the predictive power for each early clinical variable were assessed using a univariate logistic regression model. Only significant variables (p<0.05) were considered eligible for the prediction model and a c-index was then constructed for their respective predictive power (0.5 = no predictive power, 1.0 = perfect prediction). RESULTS: Of the original sample of 213 patients who had received treatment for avulsed teeth between 1998-2007 only 105 fulfilled the criteria for evaluation. Two models ('At first visit' and 'at initial treatment visits') were produced with a total of five variables that were significant and holding the greatest predictive power (high c-index): patient age (p=0.001, c=0.80); stage of root formation (p=0.001, c=0.76); storage medium (p=0.047, c=0.58); tooth mobility after dressing (p=0.001, c=0.70); and tooth mobility after splinting (p=0.003, c=0.70). These variables underwent multi-variate analysis and the final models had good predictive abilities (c-index of 0.80 and 0.74). CONCLUSION: These predictive models based on patient age, stage of root formation, storage medium, tooth mobility after dressing and tooth mobility after splinting were shown to have high predictive value and will enable a clinician to estimate the long term prognosis of avulsed and replanted teeth. It will enable planning for further treatment with a realistic view of outcome at an early stage.

Inflammatory root resorption in primary molars: prevalence and associated factors

This study aimed at determining the prevalence of inflammatory root resorption and associated factors in 1068 primary mandibular molars in 453 children 3 to 12 years of age. Age, dental history and medical history were recorded using a questionnaire administered to the children's parents/caregivers. Previously trained and calibrated examiners assessed radiographic images of the primary molars by direct observation, with the aid of a viewing box. Root resorption (physiological or inflammatory), dental crown status (healthy, carious with no pulp involvement, carious with pulp involvement and evidence of restoration), and pulpotomy or pulpectomy were determined. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, the chi-square test and a multiple logistic regression (p < 0.05). The prevalence of inflammatory root resorption was 16.2% (n = 173). The male gender (OR: 1.4; 95% CI), the 3-to-7-years age bracket (OR: 1.5; 95% CI), an unhealthy dental crown (OR: 8.7; 95% CI), caries with pulp involvement (OR: 7.4; 95% CI), pulpotomy (OR: 3.1; 95% CI), and pulpectomy (OR: 5.4; 95% CI) were risk factors for the occurrence of inflammatory root resorption in primary molars. In conclusion, the prevalence of inflammatory root resorption in the present sample was 16.2%. Gender, age, an unhealthy tooth, caries with pulp involvement, pulpotomy, pulpectomy, and the absence of a restoration were associated with a higher occurrence of inflammatory root resorption in primary molars.

Inflammatory root resorption in primary molars: prevalence and associated factors.

This study aimed at determining the prevalence of inflammatory root resorption and associated factors in 1068 primary mandibular molars in 453 children 3 to 12 years of age. Age, dental history and medical history were recorded using a questionnaire administered to the children's parents/caregivers. Previously trained and calibrated examiners assessed radiographic images of the primary molars by direct observation, with the aid of a viewing box. Root resorption (physiological or inflammatory), dental crown status (healthy, carious with no pulp involvement, carious with pulp involvement and evidence of restoration), and pulpotomy or pulpectomy were determined. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, the chi-square test and a multiple logistic regression (p < 0.05). The prevalence of inflammatory root resorption was 16.2% (n = 173). The male gender (OR: 1.4; 95% CI), the 3-to-7-years age bracket (OR: 1.5; 95% CI), an unhealthy dental crown (OR: 8.7; 95% CI), caries with pulp involvement (OR: 7.4; 95% CI), pulpotomy (OR: 3.1; 95% CI), and pulpectomy (OR: 5.4; 95% CI) were risk factors for the occurrence of inflammatory root resorption in primary molars. In conclusion, the prevalence of inflammatory root resorption in the present sample was 16.2%. Gender, age, an unhealthy tooth, caries with pulp involvement, pulpotomy, pulpectomy, and the absence of a restoration were associated with a higher occurrence of inflammatory root resorption in primary molars.

Dental treatment of patients with systemic diseases compared to patients with developmental disabilities under general anesthesia.

The medical and dental records were examined for 46 patients with systemic diseases (SD) and 75 patients with developmental disabilities (DD) aged 2-20 years, who had received dental treatment under general anesthesia (GA). Age, gender, decayed missing and filled teeth (dmft/DMFT), dental procedures, duration of GA, and posttreatment hospitalization were recorded. Before treatment, dental disease in the primary teeth was significantly higher among the group with SD (p= 0.04). In the permanent teeth, dental disease was higher among the group with DD, though not significantly. More teeth were restored, (p= 0.015) and total dmft (p= 0.043) was significantly higher among subjects with SD. In the permanent teeth, more extracted and more restored teeth and higher DMFT were noted among subjects with DD, though not significantly. Only pulpectomies were significantly more prevalent among those with DD (p= 0.038). Six subjects needed hospitalization due to their diseases after GA.

Awareness and attitude of patients' parents toward pulp therapy of the primary teeth: a clinical survey.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVE: The present study was carried out to find out the awareness and attitude of parents of patients, toward the pulpal treatment of primary teeth, visiting a dental hospital in a Bangalore suburban area. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 685 parents of the child patients requiring pulp treatment procedures visiting the dental OPD over a period of 18 months were personally interviewed with a questionnaire and their responses were immediately computed. RESULTS: Urban populations seeking dental treatment are more in number as compared to the rural population. Pain and associated feature was the most common reason among both urban (71.92%) and rural (93.3%) patients visiting a dental office. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to create more awareness among the populace of our country about the significance of maintaining a healthy primary dentition and attendant sequalae if not done so.

Clinical audit of children with permanent tooth injuries treated at a dental hospital in Ireland.

AIM: To audit key demographic and clinical factors relating to treatment of trauma to the permanent dentition at the Paediatric Dental Department, Cork University Dental School and Hospital, Ireland and to compare clinical management with guideline recommendations. STUDY DESIGN: Clinical audit. METHODS: Consecutive clinical records for children attending for treatment of dental trauma were audited with regard to age, gender and distance travelled. The number of teeth per patient, the cause, type and prevalence of injury were examined. Splinting of mobilisation injuries and the prevalence of pulp extirpation were compared with published guidelines. RESULTS: Records were available for 94 children (65 male, 29 female) with a mean age at time of injury of 10.1 (SD±2.64) years. There were 82% of children living within 50 km of the Hospital. A total of 168 teeth were involved. Dental injuries comprised 39 uncomplicated crown fractures, 18 complicated crown fractures, 37 subluxations, 9 root fractures, 10 extrusions, 14 lateral luxations, 7 intrusions, 30 avulsions and 4 were unclassified. Sport injuries accounted for 23.2% of injuries to teeth, falls for 22.6%, bicycles were involved in 15.5%, other domestic accidents 6.5%, assault 4.2%, vehicles 3.0%, swimming 0.6%. and the remaining 24.4% were unclassified. In some instances of avulsion, lateral luxation, subluxation and extrusion injuries, a tendency to splint for durations longer than that recommended in guidelines was observed. Prevalence of pulpal extirpation for replanted teeth was in keeping with recommendations. CONCLUSION: General adherence to guidelines in respect of splinting and prevalence of pulp extirpation was demonstrated. Utilising a standardised recording system would facilitate the clinical audit process.

Differences in pediatric dental services under general anesthesia for Medicaid and military dependent children.

PURPOSE: This study's purpose was to compare pediatric dental services provided for Medicaid and military dependent children to determine if differences in dental treatment choices exist based on site and payment method. METHODS: Subjects included 120 Medicaid patients at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and 120 military dependents at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Demographic data and treatment information were abstracted for children younger than 6 years old receiving dental treatment under general anesthesia between 2002 and 2006. Data was analyzed using Wilcoxon rank sum, Kruskal-Wallis, and Fisher's exact tests. RESULTS: The Medicaid recipients were younger (40.2 vs 49.8 months, P<.001) and more likely to be Hispanic (78% vs 30%, P<.001). The means of decayed teeth, fillings, and stainless steel crowns did not differ between sites. Medicaid children received more composite fillings (P<.001), fewer amalgam fillings (P<.001), fewer pulp therapies (P<.001), more extractions (P=.01), and fewer sealants (P<.001). Age and gender did not affect decay rates, but those of Hispanic ethnicity did experience more decay than non-Hispanics (9.5 vs 8.6, P=.02). CONCLUSION: This study found no difference in the number of less conservative, albeit more costly, procedures performed with Medicaid children at a university compared to military dependents at a military base.

Endodontic treatment completion following emergency pulpectomy.

AIM: Emergency pulpectomy is frequently performed to relieve pain experienced by patients following acute episodes of endodontic pain, or to limit the risks of infection or possible root resorption following traumatic pulpal exposures. The aim of this study was to examine subsequent patient attendance for completion of root canal treatment following pulpectomy procedures in a dental emergency unit. METHODS: The treatment records of 574 patients who had each received an emergency pulpectomy at the Casualty Clinic of the University Dental School and Hospital, Cork, Ireland were reviewed. The influence of age, gender, etiology, tooth type, and month in which the pulpectomy was performed on subsequent completion of endodontic treatment was examined. RESULTS: Of 574 patients, 39% (n = 224) returned to have endodontic treatment completed, 11% (n = 63) returned to have the tooth extracted, and 50% (n = 287) did not return for completion of the endodontic treatment. Cases were monitored up to five years following pulpectomy. Using a multinomial regression model, tooth type, etiology, and month in which the treatment was performed were found to be statistically significant predictors (p < 0.05) of endodontic treatment completion in the Cork University Dental School and Hospital. CONCLUSIONS: Proper patient selection and pre-treatment counseling are important considerations when planning emergency pulpectomies to avoid inappropriate use of resources and manpower.

Success rate of Sealapex in root canal treatment for primary teeth: 3-year follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and radiographic success of Sealapex pulpectomies in primary teeth. STUDY DESIGN: Root canals of 62 primary teeth were filled with Sealapex. The tooth was restored with a stainless steel crown, amalgam, compomer, or glass ionomer cement. Clinical and radiographic evaluations of pulpectomized teeth were performed for up to 36 months afterward. RESULTS: The overall success rate was 92.3%. During the follow-up period, 4 teeth (7.7%) showing periapical lesion and pathologic resorption were extracted and rated as "failure." There were no statistically significant differences between success rate and extent of root canal filling material (P > .05). None of the fillings showed complete resorption in the canals. There were no significant differences among the restorative materials (P > .05). CONCLUSION: Based on the results of this study it can be concluded that Sealapex can be used successfully in root canal treatment for primary teeth.

Restorative treatment decisions for deep proximal carious lesions in primary molars.

AIM: To assess clinicians' individual variables that might influence decision-making for the restoration of deep proximal carious lesions in primary molars. METHODS: A pre-coded questionnaire that sought participants' treatment choices for a deeply carious second mandibular primary molar, as depicted in a simulated periapical radiograph, along with a specific clinical scenario, was distributed among a random sample of 157 dentists and 15 paediatric dentists. Participants were asked to answer questions. After combining the pulpotomy and pulpectomy treatment choices under a 'pulp therapy' category, a binary dependent variable was constructed. Logistic regression of the ratio of the participants who would restore the questioned tooth by a method in question, was run. RESULTS: A total of 155 dentists (116 males and 39 females) completed the survey, giving a response rate of 90%. Of these 53% of dentists recommended pulpotomy followed by definitive restoration and 39% recommended removal of caries and restoration without pulp therapy. In the logistic regression model, males and graduates of English language undergraduate dental programs had higher probabilities of restoring without prior pulp therapy (p<0.03 and p<0.02, respectively). Compared with graduates of Asian programs, dentists who graduated from Eastern Europe and the Middle East, showed lower likelihoods of restoring the tooth without prior pulp therapy (p<0.01 and p<0.004, respectively). Dentists who treated an average of 6-16 child patients during a week had a lower probability of restoring the tooth without prior pulp therapy than those who were not currently involved in treating children (p<0.01). No other measured variables were associated with participant's treatment choices. CONCLUSIONS: The lack of agreement among dentists regarding their optimal treatment recommendations for deep proximal carious lesions appears to be due mainly to inter-individual, educational, training and practice characteristic factors.

Factors affecting treatment outcomes following complicated crown fractures managed in primary and secondary care.

The aims of this retrospective observational study were to determine the factors which affect treatment provision and the Median Survival Time (MST) for maintenance of tooth vitality following complicated crown fracture. The survey was carried out for patients treated at Newcastle Dental Hospital (NDH) according to departmental guidelines over a 2-year period following the introduction of a new protocol for management of these types of injuries. Seventy-three cases of complicated crown fracture were identified in 69 children with a mean age of 10.3 years (SD = 2.5 years). Seventy-one percent of the fractures occurred in males (M:F ratio was 2.5:1). Fifty-one percent of the complicated crown fractures were in immature teeth. Of the 73 traumatised teeth, 45% presented initially in general dental practice (GDP), 37% at the dental hospital and 8% at local accident and emergency departments with the remaining 10% seen at other or unrecorded locations. Of the 41 fractures, which presented initially at a location other than the dental hospital, 38% were referred to the dental hospital without the provision of an emergency pulp bandage. The overall definitive treatments provided for the 37 open apex teeth included pulp cap (19%), partial pulpotomy (32%), cervical pulpotomy (8%) and pulpectomy (35%), while for the 36 closed apex teeth it was pulp cap (28%), pulpotomy (11%), and pulpectomy (61%). Of the 30 teeth, which underwent vital pulp therapy (18 open and 12 closed apex), the MST for the 15 teeth treated with pulp caps was 1460 days (95% CI: 1067, 1853) while for the 15 teeth treated with pulpotomies it was 1375 days (95% CI: 964, 1786). There was no statistically significant difference in the MST between teeth treated with pulp caps and pulpotomies. In conclusion, the proportion of patients referred to secondary care with complicated crown fractures without provision of a pulp bandage is of some concern. More conservative treatment of closed apex teeth sustaining complicated crown fractures, utilizing vital pulp therapy techniques would appear to be appropriate.

Long-term effect of different treatment modalities for traumatized primary incisors presenting dark coronal discoloration with no other signs of injury.

The aim was to compare the long-term outcomes of root canal treatment with that of follow-up-only in traumatized primary incisors in which dark discoloration is the only sign of injury. Root canal treatment was performed in 48 dark discolored asymptomatic primary incisors following trauma. Twenty-five of them [root canal treatment (RCT) group] were followed till eruption of their permanent successors. Ninety-seven dark discolored asymptomatic primary incisors were left untreated and invited for periodic clinical and radiographic examination. Of these, 28 [follow-up (FU) group] were followed till eruption of their permanent successors. The parameters examined included early extraction of the traumatized primary incisor, early or delayed eruption of the permanent successors, ectopic eruption of the permanent successor and signs of enamel hypopcalcification or hypoplasia in the permanent successor. Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis. Seven of 25 (28%) of the RCT group and 32% (nine of 28) of the FU group required early extraction. Five of 25 (20%) of the RCT group and 21% (six of 28) of the FU group showed early or delayed eruption of the permanent successors. Sixteen of 25 (64%) of the RCT group and 79% (22 of 28) of the FU group showed ectopic eruption of the permanent successors. Enamel hypopcalcification or hypoplasia in the permanent successors was equally found (36%) in both groups (nine of 25 in the RCT group and 10 of 28 in the FU group). None of differences was statistically significant. Root canal treatment of primary incisors that had change their color into a dark-gray hue following trauma with no other clinical or radiographic symptom is not necessary as it does not result in better outcomes in the primary teeth and their permanent successors.

Clinical investigation of traumatic injuries in Yeditepe University, Turkey during the last 3 years.

The aim of this study was to evaluate etiology, types of traumatic dental injuries, treatment and to determine the incidence of complications according to dental injuries in patients who referred to Yeditepe University, Faculty of Dentistry, Istanbul, Turkey. The study was based on the clinical data of the 161 traumatized teeth in 92 patients. WHO classification slightly modified by Andreasen & Andreasen for dental trauma was used. The causes and localization of trauma, traumatized teeth classification, treatment and complications were evaluated both primary and permanent teeth. The distribution of complications according to diagnosis and treatment of the injured teeth were evaluated. Of 35 (38%) girls and 56 (72%) boys with a mean age 7.6 +/- 3.5 (ranging 1-14.2) participated to study and the mean followed up was 1.72 +/- 1.28 years (ranging 0.10-3.8 years). From the 161 affected teeth, 69 (42.9%) were in primary teeth and 92 (57.1%) in permanent teeth. The highest frequency of trauma occurred in the 6-12 year age group. Overall boys significantly outnumbered girls by approximately 1:1.6. The most common type of injury in the primary and permanent teeth was seen as luxation (38%) and enamel fracture (20%) of the maxillary central incisors, respectively. Falls were the major sources of trauma both the primary (90%) and the permanent teeth (84%). In the primary dentition, the most common type of soft tissue injury is contusion (62.5%) and in the permanent dentition, it is laceration (49%). The most of the treatment choice was determined as examination only and extraction in primary teeth (58 and 24.6%, respectively) while it was applied as restoration and pulpectomy in permanent teeth (31.5 and 18.5%, respectively). Complications were recorded on 37 teeth (23%) with a most common type of necrosis (10.5%) and dental abscess (7.4%). Necrosis was more frequent in luxation whereas dental abscess were in crown fracture with pulpal involvement in both dentitions. The study showed that boys were more prone to dental traumas than girls. Falls were more frequent trauma type with a high complication risk. It reveals that the time of the immediate treatment showed the important predisposing factors that increase the success of treatment and decrease the risk of complication. The correct diagnosis of dental injuries is more important for eliminating the occurrence of complications.

Comparison of ferric sulfate, formocresol, and a combination of ferric sulfate/formocresol in primary tooth vital pulpotomies: a retrospective radiographic survey.

Studies have suggested that formocresol has toxic and carcinogenic potential. A search for an alternative medicament for primary tooth pulpotomies has led to ferric sulfate as a possible alternative. A retrospective study was done in a multipractitioner IHS (Indian Health Service) clinic. Radiographic success or failure was determined for 202 primary tooth pulpotomies performed with either formocresol, ferric sulfate, or a combination procedure of formocresol and ferric sulfate. The post-operative period for the pulpotomies ranged from one month to thirty-six plus months. There was no statistical difference in radiographic failure rates between formocresol, ferric sulfate, or the combination procedure when results were analyzed regardless of post-op period. However, when post-op periods were considered, formocresol performed better at > 36 months and the combination procedure showed significantly more failures at > 36 months.