Formocresol

oriGinal research Comparative evaluation of formocresol and mineral trioxide aggregate as pulpotomy agents in deciduous teeth
Daya Srinivasan, Jayanthi M
Department of Pedodontia and Preventive Dentistry, Ragas Dental College, Uthandi, Chennai, India

ABSTRACT
Aim: To evaluate and compare mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and formocresol as pulpotomy medicaments by clinical and radiographicassessments 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 andevaluated 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 cariousteeth 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 pulpotomizedsite 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. Key words: Deciduous teeth, dentine bridge, formocresol, mineral trioxideaggregate, pulpotomy

Received : 03-07-10 Review completed : 27-09-10 Accepted : 11-11-10

The principle of pulp treatment in primary dentition is that tooth should remain in mouth in a non-pathological healthy condition to fulfill its role in primary dentition. Pulpotomy is indicated when caries removal results in pulp exposure of primary tooth with normal or reversible pulpitis or aftertraumatic pulp exposure. The coronal pulp tissue is amputated and remaining radicular pulp tissue is judged to be vital by clinical and /or radiographic
Address for correspondence: Dr. Daya Srinivasan E-mail: dayasrinivasan@yahoo.co.in Access this article online
Quick Response Code:

criteria. The objective is that radicular pulp should remain healthy without adverse clinical signs or symptoms suchas sensitivity, pain or swelling with no postoperative radiographic evidence of pathologic external or internal root resorption and no harm to succedaneous teeth. Pulpotomy in primary dentition is developed along three lines. Devitalization - destroy the vital tissue, example: formocresol, electrosurgery. Preservation- maximal vital tissue is kept with no induction of reparative dentine, exampleglutaraldehyde. Regeneration - stimulation of dentine bridge, example mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), bone morphogenic protein (BMP), osteogenic protein. For decades, formocresol has been widely used as a pulpotomy medicament. It is used as a standard for
Indian Journal of Dental Research, 22(3), 2011

Website: www.ijdr.in PMID: *** DOI: 10.4103/0970-9290.87058

385

MTA and formocresolas pulpotomy agent

Srinivasan and Jayanthi

comparison of other materials. Yet there have been many concerns about positional alteration, enamel defects of sucedaneous tooth,[1] premature exfoliation of pulpotomized tooth when compared to its antimere.[2] In June 2004, International agency of cancer IARC of WHO has stated that formaldehyde causes nasopharyngeal cancer, limited evidence that...