RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare, clinically and radiographically, the effects of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) and mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) as pulpotomy agents in permanent teeth with incomplete root development. METHODS: A total number of 70 children requiring pulpotomy in 70 permanent molars with incomplete root development were screened. Sixty-two patients met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled in the study. The patients were randomly allocated equally in 2 treatment groups. MTA pulpotomy was performed in group A (the control group), and PRF pulpotomy was performed in group B (the experimental group). The treated teeth were restored with amalgam followed by stainless steel crowns. Clinical and radiographic evaluations were performed after 6, 12, and 24 months. Thus, the data obtained were blindly analyzed using the chi-square test. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in terms of clinical and radiologic success. Radiographically, all available cases (53 teeth) showed evidence of root growth and canal narrowing. Complete apical closure was observed in 88.8% in the PRF group (experimental group) and 80.07% of roots in the MTA group (control group), respectively, at 24 months. CONCLUSIONS: PRF could be used as a suitable biological and economic alternative to MTA in pulpotomy procedures of permanent teeth with incomplete root development.
