Laser pulpotomy of primary teeth.

Pediatric Dentistry – 21:2, 1999 Pulpotomy is the treatment of choice for cariously exposed pulps in vital primary teeth. With some modification, the formocresol pulpotomy continues to be used in clinical practice. In an effort to find a more biologically acceptable and effective alternative to formocresol, other agents and techniques have been examined. Non-pharmacologic hemostatic techniques for the pulpotomoy procedure, such as electrosurgery and laser therapy have been suggested. However, the success rate of electrosurgical pulpotomy is variable 2,3,4 and research on the use of lasers for pulpotomy in primary teeth is sparse. Some studies investigating the application of lasers to dental tissues have shown their potential to increase healing, stimulate dentinogenesis and preserve vitality of the dental pulp. In 1985, Ebihara reported the effects of Nd:YAG laser on the wound healing of amputated pulps. He reported better wound healing in pulps exposed to the laser than in controls during the first week and facilitation of dentinal bridge formation in the fourth and twelfth postoperative weeks. In 1996, Wilkerson et al. evaluated the clinical, radiographic and histologic effects of argon laser on vital pulpotomy of swine teeth. The results showed that all soft tissue remained normal and all teeth exhibited normal mobility. Reparative dentine formation was noted histologically. They concluded that use of argon laser for pulpotomy did not appear to be Laser pulpotomy of primary teeth