Pulpotomy is a conservative dental procedure aimed at preserving the vitality of the radicular pulp after removing the affected coronal pulp. This treatment is common in primary teeth and young permanent teeth.
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✅ 1. Formocresol
➤ Brand Name: Buckley’s Formocresol
➤ Composition: 19% formaldehyde, 35% cresol, 15% glycerin, 21% water
➤ Properties:
° Bactericidal and tissue-fixative agent
° Mummifies remaining pulp tissue
° Easy to handle and low cost
➤ Drawbacks:
° Potentially carcinogenic and mutagenic
° Cytotoxic and allergenic
° Does not promote pulp tissue regeneration
➤ Clinical Notes:
° Although historically effective, its use has declined due to toxicity concerns.
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➤ Brand Name: Astringedent®
➤ Composition: 15.5% aqueous solution of ferric sulfate (pH 1.0)
➤ Properties:
° Effective hemostatic agent
° Forms a protein barrier sealing blood vessels
° Affordable and easy to apply
➤ Drawbacks:
° Does not promote pulp regeneration
° May cause radicular inflammation and resorption
➤ Clinical Notes:
° A less toxic alternative to formocresol, but with variable long-term success.
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➤ Brand Name: Dycal®
➤ Properties:
° Stimulates reparative dentin formation
° Highly alkaline with bactericidal effect
° Biocompatible
➤ Drawbacks:
° May cause superficial pulp necrosis
° Lower success rate in primary teeth
° Tends to dissolve over time
➤ Clinical Notes:
° More suitable for young permanent teeth; limited use in primary dentition.
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➤ Brand Name: ProRoot® MTA
➤ Composition: Tricalcium silicate, dicalcium silicate, tricalcium aluminate, bismuth oxide
➤ Properties:
Highly biocompatible
Stimulates dentin formation
Excellent sealing and antimicrobial properties
➤ Drawbacks:
High cost
Difficult manipulation and long setting time
➤ Clinical Notes:
Studies report a 97.9% clinical success rate in pediatric pulpotomies, outperforming other agents.
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➤ Brand Name: Biodentine®
➤ Composition: Tricalcium silicate, dicalcium silicate, calcium oxide, calcium chloride, zirconium oxide
➤ Properties:
° Bioactive dentin substitute
° Mechanical properties similar to natural dentin
° Fast setting time and good radiopacity
➤ Drawbacks:
° High cost
° Limited long-term clinical evidence compared to MTA
➤ Clinical Notes:
° A promising MTA alternative with easier handling and shorter setting time.
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➤ Brand Name: IRM® (Intermediate Restorative Material)
➤ Properties:
° Soothing effect on dental pulp
° Antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties
° Easy to handle and inexpensive
➤ Drawbacks:
° Does not induce reparative dentin formation
° May dissolve over time
➤ Clinical Notes:
° Commonly used as a base or sealing material in pulpotomies.
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➤ Brand Name: Pulpotec®
➤ Composition:
° Powder: Polyoxymethylene, iodoform
° Liquid: Dexamethasone, formaldehyde, phenol, guaiacol
➤ Properties:
° Induces healing of the pulp stump
° Aseptic and quick treatment
° Effective in both primary and permanent teeth
➤ Drawbacks:
° Contains formaldehyde, which has cytotoxic potential
° Not resorbable
➤ Clinical Notes:
° Long-term success reported in studies, though formaldehyde content limits its use in some cases.
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The choice of pulpotomy medication must be based on a careful evaluation of its properties, disadvantages, and available clinical evidence. While formocresol has been widely used, toxicity concerns have led to the rise of safer and more effective alternatives like MTA and Biodentine. The ideal agent depends on factors such as the patient's age, tooth condition, and specific clinical considerations.
馃摎 References
✔ Holguin Garcia, S. G. (2019). Eficacia cl铆nica del MTA en Pulpotom铆as de pacientes pedi谩tricos: Una Revisi贸n Sistem谩tica. Revista de Odontopediatr铆a Latinoamericana, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.47990/alop.v11i1.228
✔ Wikipedia. (2025). Pulpotom铆a. Retrieved from https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulpotom%C3%ADa
✔ Apuntes De Odontolog铆a. (2015). Pulpotom铆a. Retrieved from https://apuntes-de-odontologia.blogspot.com/2015/04/pulpotomia.html
✔ Studocu. (2018). Terapia Pulpar I – Dra. Andrea C谩rdenas Antonieta Montero. Retrieved from https://www.studocu.com/cl/document/universidad-finis-terrae/odontopediatria/terapia-pulpar-i/4935194
✔ Revista Odontopediatr铆a. (2014). Tratamiento Endod贸ntico no Instrumentado en dientes deciduos. Retrieved from https://backup.revistaodontopediatria.org/ediciones/2014/1/art-6/
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