After 18 - 24 months , in terms of treatment failure , the odds ratio for calcium hydroxide vs. formocresol was 1.94 [ 95 % credible interval ( CI ) : 1.11 , 3.25 ] ; 3.38 ( 95 % CI : 1.37 , 8.61 ) for lasers vs. formocresol ; 2.16 ( 95 % CI : 1.12 , 4.31 ) for calcium hydroxide vs. ferric sulfate ; 3.73 ( 95 % CI : 1.27 , 11.67 ) for lasers vs. ferric sulfate ; 0.47 ( 95 % CI : 0.26 , 0.83 ) for MTA vs. calcium hydroxide ; 3.76 ( 95 % CI : 1.39 , 10.08 ) for lasers vs. MTA CONCLUSIONS After 18 - 24 months , formocresol , ferric sulfate , and MTA showed significantly better clinical and radiographic outcomes than calcium hydroxide and laser therapies in primary molar pulpotomies .
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE The network meta-analyses showed that MTA is the first choice for primary molar pulpotomies .
However , if treatment cost is an issue , especially when the treated primary molars are going to be replaced by permanent teeth , ferric sulfate may be the choice
OBJECTIVE Pulpotomy is a common procedure to treat asymptomatic reversible pulpitis in primary molars .
The aim of this study is to undertake a systematic review and a network meta- analysis to compare the clinical and radiographic outcomes of different pulpotomy procedures in primary molars .
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 r and omly 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
After 18 - 24 months , in terms of treatment failure , the odds ratio for calcium hydroxide vs. formocresol was 1.94 [ 95 % credible interval ( CI ) : 1.11 , 3.25 ] ; 3.38 ( 95 % CI : 1.37 , 8.61 ) for lasers vs. formocresol ; 2.16 ( 95 % CI : 1.12 , 4.31 ) for calcium hydroxide vs. ferric sulfate ; 3.73 ( 95 % CI : 1.27 , 11.67 ) for lasers vs. ferric sulfate ; 0.47 ( 95 % CI : 0.26 , 0.83 ) for MTA vs. calcium hydroxide ; 3.76 ( 95 % CI : 1.39 , 10.08 ) for lasers vs. MTA CONCLUSIONS After 18 - 24 months , formocresol , ferric sulfate , and MTA showed significantly better clinical and radiographic outcomes than calcium hydroxide and laser therapies in primary molar pulpotomies .
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE The network meta-analyses showed that MTA is the first choice for primary molar pulpotomies .
However , if treatment cost is an issue , especially when the treated primary molars are going to be replaced by permanent teeth , ferric sulfate may be the choice
OBJECTIVE Pulpotomy is a common procedure to treat asymptomatic reversible pulpitis in primary molars .
The aim of this study is to undertake a systematic review and a network meta- analysis to compare the clinical and radiographic outcomes of different pulpotomy procedures in primary molars .