Treatment outcomes of pulpotomy in primary molars using two endodontic biomaterials. A 2-year randomised clinical trial

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ABSTRACT

Aim

To compare the treatment outcomes of calcium-enriched mixture (CEM) cement and mineral trioxide
aggregate (MTA) as pulp dressing biomaterials in vital pulpotomy of carious primary molars. Study design: split-mouth
randomised clinical trial.

Methods

Forty children aged 4-8 years with 2 carious teeth requiring
pulpotomy were selected and randomly assigned to MTA (n. 40) or CEM (n. 40) groups. After coronal pulp removal, the
remaining radicular pulp was covered with an appropriate biomaterial; the teeth were then permanently restored.
Clinical/radiographic success/failures were blindly evaluated at 6-, 12- and 24-month follow-ups. Statistics: the recorded
data were analyzed with McNemar test and GEE. Results A total of 36, 33 and 35 patients were available for 6-, 12- and 24-
month follow-ups, respectively. At the 12-month follow-up only one and three teeth in the CEM and MTA groups had
pathologic external root resorption, respectively. The resorbed teeth were then missed due to extraction/exfoliation at the 24-
month follow-up; all other treated teeth were sign/symptom-free. Overall, clinical and radiographic outcomes in both
MTA/CEM groups were comparable at the three follow-ups without significant differences. Time had no significant effect on
the success.

Conclusion

MTA and CEM demonstrated favourable treatment outcomes for pulpotomy of carious primary
molars; CEM may be an effective pulp dressing biomaterial.

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