Pulpotomy of primary molars with coronal or total pulpitis using formocresol technique.

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether formocresol can be used successfully in teeth with carious exposure and a vital pulp with clinical symptoms of chronic pulpitis. Further, the study concerned the influence on the success rate of the vehicle for formocresol. Pulpotomies were performed on 81 primary molars. Radiographic and other clinical symptoms were used to divide the material into a coronal chronic and a total chronic pulpitis group. Chosen by lot, zinc oxide-eugenol or Pharmatec (a plaster-like non-eugenol cement) was used as the vehicle for formocresol. After an observation period of 2.5 years the success rate for the whole material was 55%. No statistically significant difference in the rate of success could be demonstrated either between the two diagnostic groups or between the two vehicle groups.