Success of pulpectomy with zinc oxide-eugenol vs calcium hydroxide/iodoform paste in primary molars: a clinical study.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to compare clinical and radiographic success rates of zinc oxide-eugenol cement (ZOE) vs calcium hydroxide/iodoform paste (Vitapex) in pulpectomized primary molars at 6 and 12 months. METHODS Fifty-four mandibular primary molars from 42 children (average age 5.6 +/- 1.2 years) that met the inclusion criteria were allocated to either test material via block randomization. A 1-visit pulpectomy and stainless steel crown was performed by 1 investigator. The clinical and radiographic diagnoses were blindly assessed by another investigator with an intraexaminer reliability of 0.85 to 0.95 (kappa value). RESULTS At 6 and 12 months, the ZOE success rates were 48% and 85%, respectively, and the Vitopex success rates were 78% and 89%. The difference in success rates between materials at 6 months was statistically significant, but at 12 months it was not. CONCLUSIONS Vitapex appeared to resolve furcation pathology at a foster rate than zinc oxide-eugenol at 6 months, while at 12 months, both materials yielded similar results.