Effectiveness of 4 Pulpotomy Techniques—Randomized Controlled Trial

Pulpotomy is the accepted therapy for the management of cariously
exposed pulps in symptom-free primary molars; however, evidence is
lacking about the most appropriate technique. The aim of this study
was to compare the relative effectiveness of the Er:YAG laser,
calcium hydroxide, and ferric sulfate techniques with that of
dilute formocresol in retaining such molars symptom-free. Two
hundred primary molars in 107 healthy children were included and
randomly allocated to one of the techniques. The treated teeth were
blindly re-evaluated after 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. Descriptive
data analysis and logistic regression analysis, accounting for each
patient's effect by a generalized estimating equation (GEE), were
used. After 24 months, the following total and clinical success
rates were determined (%): formocresol 85 (96), laser 78 (93),
calcium hydroxide 53 (87), and ferric sulfate 86 (100). Only
calcium hydroxide performed significantly worse than formocresol (p
= 0.001, odds ratio = 5.6, 95% confidence interval 2.0-15.5). In
conclusion, calcium hydroxide is less appropriate for pulpotomies
than is formocresol.