Clinical and Radiographic Efficacy of Portland Cement as Pulpotomy Material in Human Primary Molar

Abstract

Mineral trioxide aggregates (MTA) has been considered one of the most effective pulpotomy materials as it induces the formation of dentine at a greater rate with superior structural integrity, minimal inflammation and nominal hyperplasia. Portland cement (PC), posing the principal chemical elements with similar mechanisms of action, physical properties and biocompatibility like MTA, may be considered as effective alternative for the same. So, the objective of the study was to compare the clinical and radiographic outcome of Portland cement and mineral trioxide aggregates as pulpotomy material in primary teeth. A total of 40 patients having deep carious primary tooth with mild thermal sensitivity were enrolled in this study. Pulpotomy 20 patients were treated with Portland cement and the remaining 20 patients were treated with mineral trioxide aggregates, those considered as group A and group B respectively. Then, clinical and radiological examinations were performed at 3, 6 and 12 months interval to investigate the incidence of postoperative pain, swelling, dentinal bridge formation and root resorption. After a period of one year, a total of 60.0% teeth treated by Portland cement and 50.0% teeth treated by MTA group came out successfully both clinically and radiographically. All these treated teeth that came out successful remained vital having no pain clinically along with radiological evidence of dentin bridge formation and absence of internal resorption. The difference between the tested groups was not statistically significant (p>0.05). It can be considered that Portland cement (PC) can also be used as successful pulpotomy material as an effective and economic substitute of MTA.