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Evaluation of the carbon dioxide laser on vital human primary pulp tissue
R D Elliott1, M W Roberts, J Burkes
1Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of North Carolina School of Dentistry, Chapel Hill, USA.
Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the response of the human primary pulp to the carbon dioxide laser and formocresol for vital pulp therapy.
Methods:
Fifteen healthy children with intact, caries-and-restoration-free, contralateral primary cuspids with at least two-thirds of the roots remaining who were scheduled for orthodontic extraction were randomly assigned to pulpotomy treatment with a carbon dioxide laser or formocresol. The treated teeth were clinically and radiographically evaluated at 28 and 90 days post-treatment prior to extraction. The extracted teeth were evaluated histologically for pulpal response.
Results:
All teeth were asymptomatic and clinically normal at both observation periods. Internal root resorption was observed in one formocresol and two laser treated teeth. There was a significant inverse correlation between the laser energy applied to the pulp and the degree of inflammation at 28 days (P = .01) but not at 90 days (P = .27).
Conclusion:
Carbon dioxide laser treatment compared favorably to formocresol for pulpotomy in primary teeth.