Effectiveness of pulpotomy compared with root canal treatment in managing non-traumatic pulpitis associated with spontaneous pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Pulpitis characterized by spontaneous pain can result in debilitating pain. Dogma has existed to offer only have two treatment options, namely root canal treatment (RCT) or extraction, although pulpotomy has always remained a potential treatment modality. OBJECTIVE: This review aimed to answer the following research question: 'Does pulpotomy (partial or full) (I) result in better patient and clinical reported outcomes (O), compared with RCT (C) in permanent teeth with pulpitis characterized by spontaneous pain (P) evaluated at various time intervals?' (T). METHODS: Two authors independently performed study selection, data extraction and risk of bias assessment. The literature search was conducted in the following electronic databases: Clarivate Analytics' Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. English language clinical trials comparing the patient and clinical reported outcomes between RCT and pulpotomy were included. The meta-analysis was performed on a fixed-effect model and the quality of evidence assessed by the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) approach. RESULTS: Two randomized clinical trials were included. Amongst two trials, one has published four reports at different time points involving the same cohorts. The meta-analysis revealed no difference in postoperative pain (Day 7) between RCT and pulpotomy (OR = 0.99, 95% CI 0.63-1.55, I2  = 0%) and quality of evidence was graded as 'High'. Clinical success was high at year 1, 98% for both interventions, however, decreased over time to 78.1% (pulpotomy) and 75.3% (RCT) at 5 years. DISCUSSION: Pulpotomy is a definitive treatment modality that is as effective as RCT. This could have a significant impact on treatment of such patients affording the advantages of retaining a vital pulp and preventing the need for RCT. CONCLUSION: This review could only include two trials, hence there is insufficient evidence to draw robust conclusions. The clinical data accumulated so far suggests no difference in pain between RCT and pulpotomy at Day 7 postoperatively and a single randomized control trial suggests that the clinical success rate for both treatment modalities is similar long term. There is a need for more well-designed trials by different research groups to develop a stronger evidence base in this area. REGISTRATION: PROSPERO database (CRD42021259744).

The impact of tooth avulsion on daily life performance using the Brazilian OIDP index in children and young adults.

INTRODUCTION: The evaluation of orofacial damage is an emerging branch in the forensic sciences, specifically in forensic odontology and medicine. One of the major limitations during the evaluation of forensic orofacial damages is establishing the consolidation date of acquired lesions. The consolidation date is defined as the moment from which orofacial damages are considered irreversible. AIM: To stress the relevance of knowing the consolidation date in children who underwent orofacial trauma, and to enhance forensic expertise on the evaluation of dentomaxillofacial damages. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ninety-six patients, aged between 11 and 31 years old, treated at the dental clinics of the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil, were selected for forensic orofacial evaluation. All the patients presented at least one traumatically avulsed tooth and a temporary partial denture. RESULTS: The mean age for the traumatic avulsion was 10,3 years old. The mean time for the placement of a prosthesis was 2,9 years after the initial consultation. The mean time for the use of prosthesis was 2,2 years. No significant differences were observed regarding orofacial damage outcomes between patients younger or older than 18 years of age. It was observed that patients using temporary removable partial dentures presented a 3,6-fold greater possibility of developing socially significant sequels if compared with patients using temporary fixed partial dentures. CONCLUSION: Knowing the consolidation date of orofacial damageenables the prediction of the potential development of social sequels in children and adolescents who isaster victim identification (DVI) is an intensive and demanding task involving specialists from various disciplines. The forensic dentist is one of the key persons who underwent traumatic dental avulsion.