Original Article

Year : 2017 | Volume : 2 | Issue : 2 | Page : 60-65

A Comparative Evaluation of Formocresol and Sodium Hypochlorite as Agents for Pulpotomy in Primary Molars: A Pilot Study

K. Srikanth Reddy, N. Venugopal Reddy, V. Daneswari, M. Ajay Reddy, K. Harivinder Reddy, B. Rangarao

Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Mamata Dental College, Khammam, Telangana, India

Abstract

Aim:

This in vivo study was carried out to assess the clinical and radiographic evaluation of pulpotomy in primary molars, following the use of formocresol (FC) versus sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) 5%.

Materials and Methods:

In the present study, pulpotomies were conducted on sixty primary molars of 5–8‐year‐old children who referred to the Department of Pediatric Dentistry. The selected teeth were equally distributed and randomly assigned into two groups of FC and NaOCl 5%. After taking the initial radiographs, standard pulpotomy was carried out using FC and NaOCl 5%; pulp chamber was filled with intermediate restorative material and restored with stainless steel crown cemented with glass ionomer cement.

Results:

The control (FC) and experimental (NaOCl 5%) groups demonstrated 96.3% clinical success at 3 and 6 months. The NaOCl group had 88.9% radiographic success at 3 months and 88.4% at 6 months. The FC group had 76.9% and 72% radiographic success at 3 and 6 months, respectively. No significant differences were found in clinical and radiological outcomes between two groups at 3 and 6 months (Pearson’s test, Fishers exact test; P = 0.02 and P = 0.05, respectively).

Conclusion:

Based on the results of this study, NaOCl demonstrated clinical and radiological success comparable to FC.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

Keywords: Formocresol, primary molars, pulpotomy, sodium hypochlorite

How to cite this article: Reddy KS, Reddy NV, Daneswari V, Reddy MA, Reddy KH, Rangarao B. A comparative evaluation of formocresol and sodium hypochlorite as agents for pulpotomy in primary molars: A pilot study. Int J Pedod Rehabil 2017;2:60-5.