Comparative evaluation of success of biodentine and mineral trioxide aggregate with formocresol as pulpotomy medicaments in primary molars: An in vivo study

Abstract

Aim: The study was designed to evaluate and compare the success of Biodentine and mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) in comparison to formocresol as pulpotomy medicaments over 9 months of the follow-up period. Materials and methods: The sample of 60 deciduous molars of patients aged 4–7 years were incorporated in the study. The molars were randomly allocated to the experimental and control groups. Following coronal pulp removal and achieving hemostasis, the radicular pulp was covered with either Biodentine or MTA (experimental groups). In the control group, a cotton pellet soaked with diluted formocresol (one-fifth dilution of Buckley’s formocresol) was placed over the radicular pulp for 1 minute. All pulpotomized molars were later restored with stainless steel crowns (SSCs). Results: The achieved clinical success over 9 months of the follow-up period was 100, 95, and 70% with Biodentine, MTA, and formocresol, respectively. The achieved radiographic success over 9 months of the follow-up period was 95, 60, and 25% with Biodentine, MTA, and formocresol, respectively. Conclusion: Favorable biological, physical, mechanical, and good manipulation properties of Biodentine show that this material can be used efficiently as a pulpotomy medicament in the clinical practice.