Assessment of calcium hydroxide-formocresol mix, zinc oxide and calcium hydroxide-iodoform pastes as a root filling in primary teeth (clinical and radiographic study)

Abstract

Objective. The objective of this study is to clinically and radiographically evaluate the calcium-hydroxide formocresol mix as a root filling material in primary teeth. Materials and Methods. The study was performed on 75 primary molars of patients aged from 4-8 years that were indicated for pulpectomy. Teeth were divided randomly into 3 main equal groups. Each group formed of 25 primary molars. Group A: 25 children teeth in which zinc oxide and eugenol (ZO/E) was used as filling material. Group B: 25 children teeth in which calcium hydroxide formocresol mix was used as a filling material. Group C: 25 children teeth in which Metapex was used as a filling material. Teeth were assessed clinically and radiographically at 5 different intervals (preoperative, 24 hours, 6 weeks , 3 months and 6 month postoperative), using standard clinical and radiographic criteria. Results. It was found that Maetapex offers best clinical and radiographical results when compared with ZO/E and calcium hydroxide fromocresol mix . ZO/E (group A) showed (84%) success rate, while the Calcuim hydroxide fromocresol mix (group B) showed a higher success rate (88%) than (ZO/E) . Metapex (group C) showed the best success rate of all groups (94%). Failure rates were (16%), (12%) and (6%) for the three groups, respectively. Conclusion. Metapex is the best material as root filling material with a high success rate and showing competitive properties to ZO/E and Calcium hydroxide formocresol mix. Calcium hydroxide formocresol mix shows better result than ZO/E .Both of Metapex & Calcium hydroxide formocresol mix have the power to be an alternative for ZO/E in primary molars treated by pulpectomy.