Zinc oxide-eugenol paste retained in gingival mucosa after primary teeth pulpectomy

Long-term follow-up evaluations of pulpectomy in primary teeth have revealed retention of ZOE filling particles in the periapical area even after root resorption.

This paper reports a case of a child submitted to pulpectomy with ZOE paste in primary teeth. After 28 months, the filling particles remained, having migrated to the alveolar bone from the gingival vestibular mucosa during permanent dentition eruption. Aesthetics required periodontal surgical removal of the paste particles. Primary teeth submitted to pulpectomy should be evaluated carefully both clinically and radiographically to verify radicular and ZOE filling paste resorption. The consequences of retained particles during permanent dentition eruption are unknown.