Success rate of calcium hydroxide pulpotomy in primary molars restored with amalgam and stainless steel crowns.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the success rate of calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)(2)) pulpotomies in primary molars restored with a stainless steel crown (SSC) to that of teeth restored with amalgam and to evaluate the role of restoration failure in treatment outcome.

STUDY DESIGN: Pulpotomies were performed in 154 primary molars. Teeth were grouped according to pulpal exposure type as either mechanically or cariously exposed, with cariously exposed teeth further divided according to size of exposure site (pinpoint or larger than pinpoint). Seventy teeth were restored with amalgam and 84 with a SSC. Teeth were followed up for 12 months.

RESULTS: Pulpotomy success rates were 79.9% for teeth restored with a SSC and 60% for those restored with amalgam. The difference between these rates was statistically significant (p <0.01). Restoration failure rates were 14.3% for amalgams and 2.4% for SSCs. The difference between these rates was also statistically significant (p <0.01). Among the 12 failed restorations, treatment was found to be successful in five cases (41.7%) and unsuccessful in seven cases (58.3%). This difference was not statistically significant (p >0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: The pulpotomy success rate for teeth restored with a SSC was higher than for those restored with amalgam. Restoration failure did not appear to have an effect on treatment prognosis.