Formocresol blood levels in children receiving dental treatment under general anesthesia.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to determine the presence of formocresol in the plasma of children undergoing oral rehabilitation involving pulp therapy under general anesthesia. METHODS Thirty 2- to 6-year-old preschool children were enrolled in the study. Preoperative, intra-operative, and postoperative peripheral venous samples were collected from each child. All samples were analyzed for formaldehyde and cresol levels using gas chromatography with mass spectrometry detection. RESULTS Eighty-five pulpotomies were performed ranging from 1 to 5 per child. Three hundred twelve blood samples were collected. Analysis revealed that formaldehyde was undetectable above baseline plasma concentration and cresol was undetectable in all samples. Benzyl alcohol (a byproduct of cresol metabolism) was present in all samples except the baseline preoperative samples. Benzyl alcohol concentrations ranged from 0 to 1 mg/ml. CONCLUSIONS Formaldehyde was undetectable above baseline plasma concentration, and cresol was undetectable in subjects receiving pulpotomy treatment under general anesthesia. Benzyl alcohol was detected in the plasma of all subjects receiving pulpotomy treatment. The levels present were far below the Food and Drug Administration's recommended daily allowance. It is unlikely that formocresol, when used in the doses typically employed for a vital pulpotomy procedure, poses any risk to children.