Clinical and radiographic evaluation of pulpotomies in primary molars with formocresol, glutaraldehyde and ferric sulphate.

AIMS This in vivo study aimed to assess and compare the relative clinical and radiographic success of formocresol, glutaraldehyde and ferric sulphate as medicaments following pulpotomies in primary molars at three-monthly intervals over one year. METHODS The study was carried out on 90 primary molars in 54 children aged from 3 to 9 years. Selected teeth were equally distributed and randomly assigned to formocresol, glutaraldehyde and ferric sulphate pulpotomy medicament groups (30 in each group). The teeth were then evaluated clinically and radiographically at three-monthly intervals over one year. The resulting data were tabulated and statistically analysed using the chi-square test. RESULTS After one year, the clinical success rate was 100% with glutaraldehyde, 96.7% with ferric sulphate, and 86.7% with formocresol. The radiological success rate gradually decreased over the year in all pulpotomy medicament groups. Radiological success rates in formocresol, glutaraldehyde, and ferric sulphate groups were 56.7%, 83.3%, and 63.3%, respectively. CONCLUSION Two per cent glutaraldehyde may be recommended as a more effective alternative to formocresol and ferric sulphate as a pulpotomy medicament.